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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Public Health officials are offering new details about their investigation into a Redwood Valley church’s Mother’s Day service that is connected to new cases of COVID-19 in Lake and Mendocino counties, with the church’s pastor now confirmed as one of the patients.

On Sunday, the Public Health departments for both Lake and Mendocino counties confirmed the latest cases – the ninth and 10th for Lake, the 14th for Mendocino – were related to a church service, but at that time hadn’t identified the church, as Lake County News has reported.

The Lake County cases are reported to be members of the same household.

On Monday, Mendocino County Health Officer Dr. Noemi Doohan issued an update on the investigation into the cases.

Doohan’s report explained that it’s been determined that the patient who is Mendocino County’s 14th COVID-19 case – an elderly male living in the Ukiah Valley – was exposed to the virus at Redwood Valley Assembly of God Church on Sunday, May 10.

On that day the church hosted a livestream service with singing that was recorded, Doohan said.

Officials said that the three individuals were at the church during the livestream. Two of the three individuals participated in the livestream event with singing at the church.

She said that the church has since announced on social media that the pastor has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The church’s social media posts identified the pastor as Jack McMilan, a resident of Lucerne.

In posts made by his wife Sharon McMilin and grandson Jason Bright on Sunday, it was reported that Jack McMilan is in the hospital with pneumonia as a result of COVID-19.

He is reported to have been hospitalized at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley on Saturday.

During a special Monday morning Board of Supervisors meeting, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace gave a brief update on the cases.

He did not identify them but said the only hospitalized case – a reference to McMilan – is “stable” with the others self-isolating.

Pace said there are other family members and community contacts during the infectious period for these recent cases, so the tracing work is continuing.

Mendocino and Lake County Public Health are working together to reach any other individuals who have been exposed to this outbreak.

Officials are asking that individuals who have recently visited the Assembly of God Church in Redwood Valley or have come in contact with individuals involved in the livestream service production on Mother’s Day get tested for COVID-19 along with their close contacts.

Free COVID-19 testing will be offered by Mendocino County Public Health on Tuesday, May 19 in Redwood Valley at Eagle Peak Middle School from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lake County residents cand make an appointment for testing at various sites around the county using Project Baseline’s COVID-19 Testing Program online screening tool and appointment scheduling system, found at www.projectbaseline.com/COVID19 , or can contact Lake County Public Health at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-8174.

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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Not in 2020. Compassionate Eye Foundation/Robert Daly/OJO Images/Getty Images


The Education Department is letting states cancel standardized tests. The move is a practical one: School buildings across the nation are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, even though distance learning efforts are widespread.

As a result, 2020 is the first year without federally mandated standardized testing in nearly two decades. Washington has required all states to use these tests to evaluate students, teachers, principals, schools and entire school systems, first in accordance with accountability measures shaped by the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act and later under the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act.

Until now, students in third through eighth grade were taking standardized tests annually for language arts and math, and then at least once again in high school. In addition, they took at least one science standardized test in elementary, middle and high school. All told, not counting practice sessions and drills, students spend between 20-25 hours a year taking standardized tests. By the time many Americans graduate from high school they’ve taken approximately 112 of them.

As an educational researcher who explores the concept of assessment in my book “Teaching with Purpose: An Inquiry into the Who, Why, and How We Teach” and the father of two school-aged children, I do believe students should be assessed on a regular basis. But I wonder whether they are taking too many standardized tests and if there are better ways to evaluate whether students are on track.

Between kindergarten and high school, students take more than 100 standardized tests. gece33/Getty Images

Evaluating teachers

States get to decide how their public schools use standardized test scores when they evaluate teachers. For example, scores in New Mexico count as 35% toward evaluation, while Florida school districts choose how much weight they give test scores for this purpose. Some states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Oklahoma no longer include scores in their system of teacher evaluation.

There are states, including Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, that have suspended or waived their teacher evaluations altogether for the 2019-2020 school year. Others, such as Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have waived some of their requirements. And still others, such as Ohio, Texas and Virginia have granted school systems flexibility and discretion.

Guiding instruction

Teachers may use test data to guide instruction. For example, if a student gets a low score on a portion of a standardized test, the teacher might focus on that area of weakness to better meet the needs of that student through individualized or small group instruction. However, this practice isn’t always helpful because as many as four months can elapse between when students take tests and teachers get to see their scores.

Telling parents about their child’s progress

At least in theory, standardized test scores are supposed to let parents and other guardians know if their children are on track. In practice, that’s not always the case. It’s usually quite challenging for anyone unfamiliar with educational terms and metrics to decipher what the results indicate.

Alternatives

Standardized testing is a fraught issue. Many educators and parents are concerned that there are too many of them and that the scores are misused. Other widespread concerns are that schools are narrowing the curriculum by overemphasizing subjects like math and reading and that high-stakes testing is making children suffer high levels of anxiety.

Many teachers and educational researchers question whether test scores say anything about teacher performance and whether the costs of administering them are justified.

Nevertheless, school systems can’t function without assessing their students and teachers. They will need to figure out how to proceed without standardized tests.

Moving forward, in my view, school systems and other authorities can take advantage of this remarkable time to seek alternatives to standardized tests. One good option is a portfolio-based assessment system that includes a diverse range of student work, along with systematically giving students immediate feedback on their work.

For a broader sense of whether all students are learning, I think that the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, is very valuable in providing data on how students are progressing in reading and math. Large representative samples of fourth and eighth graders who attend public and private schools take this standardized test every other year.

[You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter.]The Conversation

James D. Kirylo, Professor of Education, University of South Carolina

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library announces the good news that the library has subscribed to a fun new reading program that your child can access from home.

Scholastic BookFlix is an online literacy resource that pairs classic animated stories from Weston Woods with thematically aligned nonfiction ebooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning.

This engaging digital resource for children in grades Pre-K through third will help early readers develop and practice essential reading skills, and introduces them to a world of knowledge and exploration.

Your child can access Scholastic BookFlix with a Lake County Library card anywhere there is an internet connection.

Patrons can access bookflix by heading to the library website at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and clicking on digital content. This interactive resource will help them get excited about reading and books, and extends learning beyond school hours.

BookFlix includes classic animated stories, each paired with a related nonfiction ebook. BookFlix has Spanish language versions of the stories.

With the “Read-aloud Supports” students can hear each book narrated, and also hear definitions of key words and directions for each activity. Educational puzzlers let children show what they have learned.

Safe, age-appropriate web links selected by Scholastic’s editors give kids the opportunity to extend their learning on a topic. The “Meet the Creator” section inspires kids to learn more about each fiction book.

Scholastic BookFlix is specifically created to support non-, beginning, and reluctant readers — it’s the perfect resource for independent reading practice at school and at home.

With a library card, patrons can access the library’s array of digital services without the need to visit a local branch. If you need a library card, you can create an online card with the application form on the library website.

If you have a question about an existing library account, call 707-263-8817 and leave a message. Library staff will be available by phone during normal operating hours to assist with the digital resources.

The Lake County Library continues to offer services during the COVID19 stay at home. If you want to keep up with library news, sign up for free weekly email updates on the library’s homepage.

Jan Cook is a library technician for the Lake County Library.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will hold discussions regarding reopening county offices and helping businesses and community members comply with Public Health orders related to the pandemic, and about the possible use of the county’s former juvenile hall for a facility to help the homeless.

The board will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, 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, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please note the agenda item number addressed.

At 9:02 a.m., the board will hold a discussion on worksite prevention protocol and direction to staff for the reopening to the public of county offices that have been closed over the past two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the board explained that a board ad hoc committee and department heads have been concurrently planning for the reopening of county offices to the public.

“Much like the self-certification process to be completed by local businesses for reopening, County Department Heads will self-certify that their offices are in full and continuous compliance with this Protocol. Self-certification forms will be posted at the entrance of every County office,” Huchingson wrote.

The protocol requires that personal protective equipment be kept on hand at all times; special signage regarding masking, social distancing and other practices to be posted at each public entrance and throughout interior areas including customer service counters, elevators and lobbies of county facilities to inform employees and the public; the necessity for enhanced hand washing, sanitizing and disinfecting; requirements for minimum 6-foot social distancing; best practices for paper handling; employee self-screenings, symptom checks and temperature self-checks; support for employees who are at higher risk for severe illness; handling meetings and trainings differently – canceling, postponing or conducting them electronically; cancellation of nonessential travel; and a procedure for referral of employees to testing when symptomatic or known to have been exposed.

At 9:35 a.m., the board will consider possible measures to assist local businesses and members of the public.

“As we enter the accelerated Stage 2 of Governor Newsom’s plan for gradual reopening of local businesses, staff is requesting to engage in discussion with your Board regarding options for assistance to local business and members of the public in their efforts to comply with local Public Health Orders, as the pandemic continues,” Huchingson said in a report to the board for the item.

At 10:05 a.m., the board will take up a proposal involving the use of the former juvenile hall facility for a housing navigation hub for those experiencing homelessness.

Supervisors Bruno Sabatier and Tina Scott are asking the board to consider studying the use of the facility, which their report said “has the potential to be a dormitory of sorts to help provide a perfect environment to help transition folks to stable housing as well as provide wrap around services.”

The full agenda follows.

TIMED ITEMS

5.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of county of Lake COVID-19 public health emergency return to work – worksite prevention protocol and direction to staff for the reopening of county offices to the public.

5.3, 9:20 a.m.: Consideration of addition of special meeting to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2020 due to the COVID-19 health emergency.

5.4, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from April 14 and March 24), appeal to Board of Supervisors, AB 19-03 for Minor Use Permit MUP 18-10 (Sandtner/Frey).

5.5, 9:35 a.m.: Consideration of possible measures to assist local businesses and members of the public to comply with local Public Health orders during the gradual reopening of Lake County during the continuing COVID-19 public health emergency.

5.6, 9:50 a.m.: Consideration of first amendment to the emergency occupancy agreement between the county of Lake and the Lamplighter Motel for COVID-19 emergency isolation housing, for a maximum compensation amount of $49,500 and authorize the chair to sign.

5.7, 10 a.m.: (a) Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2020, as CalFresh Awareness Month; and (b) presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2020 as Older Americans Month in Lake County    .

5.8, 10:05 a.m.: Consideration of discussion and direction on use of juvenile hall for housing navigation hub.

CONSENT AGENDA

6.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting from May 5, 2020.

6.2: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to sign and submit the grant agreement between the district and the Air Resources Board for AB617 implementation funds for the Community Air Protection Program, and to sign all other program documents.    

6.3: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District, Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing participation in "Year 22" Carl Moyer Program, and authorizing the air pollution control officer to submit grant application and sign program documents.

6.4: Adopt resolution authorizing Lake County Behavioral Health Services as administrative entity for California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program grant funds.

6.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve Amendment No. 1 between the county of Lake and Mother-Wise Program (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) for the fiscal year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $184,862.15 and authorize the board chair to sign.    

6.6: Approve the continuation of local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.

6.7: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2019-2020 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health services and authorize the Health Services director to sign necessary documents to secure these funds.

6.8: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Fire Incident (River and Ranch fires).    

6.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.    

6.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.

6.11: Approve the plans and specifications for the Hill Road Correctional Facility Phase II Roof Project, Bid No. 20-17, and authorize the Public Services director / assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.    

6.12: Adopt resolution accepting grant funds for the Lampson Field Airport and designating the Public Works director as the sponsor’s official representative.

6.13: Approve agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Forest Service for FY 19/20 annual operating and financial plan, in the amount of $19,000 for controlled substance operations, and authorize the sheriff and the chairman to sign.

6.14: Approve Amendment No. 1 of Inmate telephone and video visitation service agreement with Inmate Calling Solutions LLC.

6.15: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2020 as CalFresh Awareness Month.

6.16: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2020 as Older Americans Month in Lake County.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation, and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.    

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) chief negotiator: M. Long; county negotiators: C. Huchingson and P. Samac; and (b) employee organizations: LCDDAA, LCDSA, LCCOA, LCEA, LCSEA and LCSMA.

8.2: Conference with legal counsel: existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.

8.3: Conference with legal counsel: existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1)- John, et al. v. County of Lake, et al.    

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

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. – On Sunday, officials reported that two new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Lake County and that they’ve been traced to a Mother’s Day church service in neighboring Mendocino County.

Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said the latest two Lake County residents who tested positive for COVID-19 are members of the same household, and there is a known connection to a confirmed positive case in Mendocino County.

Pace said one of the individuals is hospitalized.

Case investigations and contact tracing are ongoing at this time, Pace said.

Lake County’s confirmed COVID-19 case total now stands at 10.

Health departments statewide on Sunday reported more than 79,000 cases and more than 3,200 deaths have been caused by COVID-19.

The Mendocino County Public Health Department said Sunday that Lake County’s two latest cases are related to Mendocino County’s 14th case, which was reported to that agency on Friday evening.

“The case investigation and contact tracing was immediately initiated by Public Health to learn the source of infection and ensure that asymptomatic contacts were quarantined and symptomatic contacts were tested and isolated,” Mendocino County Public Health reported.

The agency said that the Initial findings of this investigation were determined and verified by Saturday evening.

Mendocino County’s 14th COVID-19 case is an elderly male living in the Ukiah Valley who is a close contact of the two Lake County residents just diagnosed with COVID-19. The Lake County cases were confirmed on Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The source of this outbreak involving three people has been determined to have happened at an inland Mendocino County church where a livestream church service with singing occurred on Mother’s Day, Mendocino County Public Health reported.

Officials said all three of the new cases were at the venue during the livestream and two of the individuals participated in the livestream event with singing at the church.

Mendocino and Lake County Public Health officials are working together to reach any other individuals who are contacts of these three new cases, including anyone who participated in the livestream church service with singing.

One of the Lake County residents was hospitalized at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley on Saturday. The other Lake County resident and Mendocino County’s 14th case are in stable condition, in isolation, at their homes, officials said.

To protect privacy, Mendocino County Public Health is not releasing the name of the inland Mendocino church at this time but is urging the church leaders to do so themselves in order to encourage members of the church to seek testing for COVID-19 and medical attention if needed.

Pace declined to release further information about the Lake County cases in order to protect the identity of the individuals.

Lake County’s previous cases also were connected to out-of-county contacts and some involved multiple people in the same households, as Lake County News has reported.

The other eight individuals in Lake County who tested positive for the virus have recovered, Lake County Public Health reported.

To date, Lake County Public Health reported that more than 1,100 county residents have been tested for COVID-19.

The news comes as Lake County is preparing to submit a variance to the state to seek a quicker reopening under the governor’s Roadmap to Recovery.

If you have symptoms or are otherwise concerned you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your medical provider, visit https://www.projectbaseline.com/study/covid-19/ to schedule drive-thru testing or contact the Health Services Department, Public Health Division, for information on your options.

Public Health can be reached by email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone during business hours at 707-263-8174.

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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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Four dogs are waiting for new homes at Clearlake Animal Control this week.

While the shelter has moved most of its dogs into foster, potential adopters can make appointments to meet and adopt available dogs.

The following dogs are ready for adoption or foster.

“Lady.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Lady’

“Lady” is a female German Shepherd mix.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 3683.

“Princess.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Princess’

“Princess” is a female German Shepherd with a black and tan coat.

She has been spayed.

Princess is young and energetic. She previously lived around a smaller dog and has been around the office cat. She will benefit from training and attention.

She is dog No. 3669.

“Spud.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Spud’

“Spud” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle and white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 3733.

“Tyson.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Tyson’

“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short gray and white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 1863.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s website.

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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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission will hold a special meeting this week to discuss the proposed sale of the city-owned Austin Resort property to a developer.

The commission will meet virtually beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19.

The meeting will be viewable live on the Lake County PEG TV YouTube channel livestream.

Submit comments and questions in writing for commission consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..us or at https://www.opentownhall.com/8827 .  

Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your Town Hall submission. Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the chair or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen.

To give the commission adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the meeting begins will not be included in the record.

The single agenda item is a determination of whether or not the city’s proposed sale of the Austin Resort property, 7.68 acres located at 14061 and 14071 Lakeshore Drive, to Bailey Building and Loans LLC is consistent with the city’s general plan.

In March, with the approval of the Clearlake City Council, Flora signed a letter of intent for the property sale, as Lake County News has reported.

The company is proposing to build a waterfront resort including a new hotel, restaurant and marina, according to the report from City Manager Alan Flora.

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.



051920 Clearlake Planning C... by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors will hold a special Monday morning meeting to discuss the Public Health officer’s plan to move Lake County from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown into its first reopening phase following Memorial Day weekend.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 18.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please note the agenda item number addressed.

Written comments for this special meeting must be submitted to the clerk to the Board of Supervisors by ‪4 p.m. Sunday, May 17.

During the meeting, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace will offer his weekly comprehensive COVID-19 situational update.

Pace and Public Health staff will then present their local variance plan to accelerate through the later phases of Stage 2 of California’s COVID-19 Response Resilience Roadmap.

Once reviewed by State Public health officials, the local variance would grant Pace the authority to reopen some additional Lake County businesses.

Pace’s plan will require mandatory masking for reopening all businesses through Stage 2.

The plan calls for beginning Stage 1 to begin on May 26. It will allow for reopening destination retail; personal services, limited to car washes, pet grooming, tanning facilities and landscape gardening; outdoor dining restaurants with social distancing, not gaming areas or bars; office-based businesses, although telework remains strongly encouraged; outdoor museums and open gallery places; government offices that were deemed non-essential; and childcare expanded to children of nonessential workers.

Phase two will begin on June 9. It will allow for dine-in restaurants with social distancing, not gaming or bars; day camps, after school programs, carried out in stable groups of 10 children or fewer, without changes from one group to another.

Schools will remain closed until the fall, the plan states.

Pace offers an in-depth explanation of his plan in this commentary.

Prior to reopening all businesses must complete a reopening business plan, social distancing plan and a self-certification attestation form that must be posted at the entrance of each business entrance and must be made available for the public.

The board also will consider submitting a letter to the state in support of the county’s variance attestation form, in accordance with state guidelines.

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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For Artemis missions, NASA’s Orion spacecraft will be traveling at 25,000 miles per hour as it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere, which will slow it down to 325 mph. Parachutes will then bring it down to about 20 mph.

During the parachute deploy sequence, hardware will be jettisoned and fall into the Pacific Ocean below while the recovery ship awaits near the landing site. Keeping the ship and recovery team safe is critical to mission success.

The Landing and Recovery team, led by Exploration Ground Systems at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is prepared to safely recover Orion and attempt to recover the jettisoned hardware.

A four-person team of engineers from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will also be onboard the U.S. Navy recovery ship with a “Sasquatch” — no, not an elusive hairy creature, but a very important software tool created specifically for Orion.

“Sasquatch is the software NASA uses to predict large footprints — that’s why we call it Sasquatch — of the various debris that is released from the capsule as it is reentering and coming through descent,” said Sarah Manning, a Sasquatch operator and aerospace engineer from the Engineering Directorate at Johnson.

The hardware jettisoned, or released, during parachute deployment includes drogue and pilot parachutes that help initially slow and stabilize Orion, along with other elements necessary for the parachute sequence to deploy.

The primary objective for the Sasquatch team is to help get the ship as close as possible to recover Orion quickly. A secondary objective is to recover as much hardware as possible.

During Underway Recovery Test-8 in March, NASA's Landing and Recovery team from Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center performs its first full mission profile test of the recovery procedures for Artemis I aboard the USS John P. Murtha in the Pacific Ocean. Credits: NASA/Kenny Allen.

Incorporating wind data gathered from the balloons with Sasquatch’s information about the debris, such as how quickly it falls, will show how the debris will spread based on the winds that day — scenarios the team has practiced for years in the Arizona desert where the Orion program conducted parachute testing.

That’s where Sasquatch and eight weather balloons, released from the recovery ship by a team from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, come into play.

They will use that information to position the recovery ship, small boats and helicopters outside the debris field to avoid injuries or damage.

“The upper-level wind speed and direction are critical in modeling the debris trajectories,” said Air Force Maj. Jeremy J. Hromsco, operations officer, 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. “Data provided to U.S. Navy and NASA forecast teams will allow them to accurately characterize and forecast the atmosphere during recovery operations.”

Positioning is paramount to recovering the hardware before it sinks. The team will first focus on recovering the capsule’s forward bay cover, a protective ring that covers the back shell of the capsule and protects the parachutes during most of the mission, as well as the three main parachutes. If they are successful, engineers can inspect the hardware and gather additional performance data.

Senior Airman Kyle Boyes of the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron out of Patrick Air Force Base in Florida releases a weather balloon during Underway Recovery Test-8 in the Pacific Ocean in March 2020. Credits: NASA/Amanda Griffin.

About five days before splashdown, the Landing and Recovery team heads to a midway point between shore and where Orion is expected to land.

As the spacecraft approaches, the Navy ship with the team continues its approach. How close they can get — and how quickly they can get to the capsule — depends on the work of the Sasquatch team.

“We have locations ready two hours before splashdown, but anything could change,” Manning said. “Then we have to make real-time decisions and people need to move.”

Helicopters that capture valuable imagery during descent and landing take off about an hour before splashdown. These aircraft set their flight plans based on the latest information from the Sasquatch team.

Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System rocket, with the newly upgraded ground systems at Kennedy. During future Artemis missions, crew will be onboard. The recovery team intends to recover the crew and capsule within two hours of splashing down.

“Safety is absolutely very important,” Manning said. “We want to get as close as we can — far enough away that the recovery team is safe, but close enough that they can get there quickly.”

Jim Cawley works for NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Sarah Manning, an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is part of a team that operates “Sasquatch,” an important software tool created specifically for the agency’s Orion spacecraft. Credits: NASA/Amanda Griffin.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will discuss approving the summertime safe and sane fireworks sales in the city and whether or not to move forward with the July 4 fireworks display.

The meeting will take place via webinar beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19.

To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling 415-930-5229 or toll-free, 877-309-2074. The access code is 620-529-293; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.

Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

Please indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.

The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. to discuss a case of litigation, public employee appointment regarding the city manager and conference with the labor negotiator before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m.

On Tuesday, City Manager Margaret Silveira will ask the council to consider approving safe and sane fireworks sales with the approval of the Lake County Public Health Department and city staff, and conditional on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She also will ask the council to consider whether it wants to go forward with the July 4 fireworks display and include the $20,500 expense to the 2020/21 budget.

Other agenda items include consideration of the proposed resolution adopting the Eleventh Street Corridor Multimodal Engineered Feasibility Study and a recommendation that the Lake Area Planning Council also adopt the proposed study, and a resolution authorizing the submission, signatory and approval of the 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant application for housing rehabilitation, micro-enterprise assistance and planning technical assistance programs.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the special and regular council meetings on May 5; the May 13 warrant register; 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; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the COVID-19 public health emergency; receipt and filing of the third-quarter financial report; adoption of a resolution calling for and providing for, and giving notice of the general municipal election in Lakeport on Nov. 3 for the purpose of electing three council members to four-year terms; adoption of the resolution accepting construction of the Library Park Sidewalk Replacement Project by Granite Construction Company and authorize the filing of the notice of completion.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold a special Monday meeting to consider a letter of support for the county’s variance request to the state as it seeks to move into the COVID-19 recovery and reopening stages.

The council will meet at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 18.

To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling 213- 929-4231 or toll-free, 866-901-6455. The access code is 673-889-880; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.

Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 10 a.m. Monday, May 18.

Please indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.

The council’s single item of business is to consider a letter of support for Lake County’s variance to accelerate the pace of advancing through Stage 2 of the State’s Pandemic Roadmap to be submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The Board of Supervisors will meet at 10 a.m. Monday to consider the variance and its own letter of support.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Rodeo has become the latest local event to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, the Lake County Rodeo Association reported it had decided to cancel this year’s event, which had been set for July 10 and 11.

The association board of directors made the decision to cancel the 91st annual event after “much heartfelt discussion,” said President Adam Peters in a Friday statement.

“This decision has not come easily but with all the current restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic we see no way to hold the rodeo this year,” Peters said.

Peters thanked the groups and local businesses that have made the rodeo possible over the years, including the California Cowboy Professional Rodeo Association, as well as the local barrel racing, team roping and queen competitions, and the children’s events for cutest cowpoke and mutton bustin’.

Peters said that the board believes that with a year to heal the communities from the impacts of the pandemic, the 91st annual Lake County Rodeo can be rescheduled and take place on July 9 and 10, 2021, at its usual location, the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

“Our all-volunteer board, comprised of a variety of private residents of the county, takes great pride in bringing this community event to you every year,” Peters said.

Peters said they plan on returning with all the events connected to the rodeo – including the Saturday evening Rodeo Dance – plus great vendors in 2021.

The California Cowboy Professional Rodeo Association reported that several other rodeos have been canceled so far this season, but plans are still on for nearly 20 rodeo events between now and the association’s finals in September.

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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