NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A fire that began burning in Shasta County on Thursday has triggered the evacuation of several thousand residents.
Cal Fire said the Mountain fire is burning in the area of Bear Mountain Road and Dry Creek Road, north of Bella Vista and northeast of Redding.
Late Thursday, the fire was reported to have burned 600 acres, with 20 percent containment, according to Cal Fire.
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said 1,110 homes and structures are threatened and approximately 3,885 residents have been evacuated. No injuries have so far been reported.
Cal Fire said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
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. – California’s unemployment rate tied a record low in July, Lake County’s jobless rate rose slightly and the nationwide job picture remained steady.
The latest report from the California Employment Development Department said that California’s unemployment rate tied a record low 4.1 percent in July while the state’s employers added 19,600 nonfarm payroll jobs, based on information from two surveys.
The state’s July 4.1 percent unemployment rate tied the record low unemployment rate first set in July through December 2018.
The report showed that Lake County’s jobless rate in July rose to 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in June but just below the 5.2-percent adjusted rate in July 2018.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nationwide unemployment in July remained at 3.7 percent for the second month in a row, compared to 3.9 percent in July 2019.
Based on a monthly federal survey of 5,100 California households which focuses on workers in the economy, the number of Californians holding jobs in June was 18,583,000, a decrease of 25,000 from June and down 1,000 from the employment total in July of last year.
At the same time, the report showed the number of unemployed Californians was 804,000 in July, a decrease of 11,000 over the month and up by 1,000 compared with July of last year.
The report said wage and salary jobs increased by 311,800 jobs – a 1.8 percent increase – from July 2018 to July 2019 compared to the U.S. annual gain of 2,246,000 jobs, a 1.5 percent increase.
Wage and salary jobs in California’s 11 major industries totaled 17,488,600 in July – a net gain of 19,600 jobs from June. The California Employment Development Department said this followed a revised gain of 41,300 jobs in June.
The California Employment Development Department said the state’s July job gain contributes to an employment expansion in California that is now 113 months long, tying the expansion of the 1960s for the longest on record.
What’s different about California’s current job expansion from that one decades ago, the Employment Development Department said, is that the record expansion between August 1960 and December 1969 was primarily fueled by manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, and higher population growth.
In the 1960s, there was a 2.7-percent annual growth rate compared to 0.8 percent currently, based on the state data.
California has gained 3,299,000 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010, accounting for more than 15 percent of the nation’s job gains over the expansion, the report said.
The report said that while virtually all states have experienced sustained job growth since the end of the recession, California’s growth has been more broad-based in all but one of the state’s 11 major industries.
That growth has been led by gains in the high-tech jobs of professional and business services and information, along with increases in education and health services, which the state said supports an aging demographic.
The number of jobs in the agriculture industry decreased by 3,400 jobs from June to 425,900. The agricultural industry has added 3,900 farm jobs since July 2018.
Total farm jobs in Lake County actually grew by 11.3 percent in July, while total nonfarm jobs were down by 3.2 percent, according to state data.
Areas of growth in Lake County included the subcategories of wholesale trade, 25 percent; professional and business services, 3.3 percent; financial activities, 2.7 percent; mining, logging and construction, 2.2 percent; and other services, 1.8 percent.
Lake County’s job sector subcategories showing declines included government, -13.3 percent; service providing, -3.6 percent; manufacturing, -2.6 percent; retail trade, -0.4 percent.
In Lake County, the civilian labor force numbered 28,990 individuals in July, compared to 29,270 in June and 28,910 in July 2018, based on state data.
There were 1,480 unemployed Lake County residents last month, 1,430 in June and 1,490 in July 2018, the state said.
Lake County was ranked No. 35 statewide for its July unemployment rate. Neighboring county jobless rates and rankings are Colusa, 10.2 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 6.7 percent, No. 48; Mendocino, 4 percent, No. 21; Napa, 3 percent, No. 5; Sonoma, 3 percent, No. 5; and Yolo, 4.3 percent, No. 26, the report said.
The report also stated there were 308,212 people receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits during the survey week in July compared to 302,156 in June and 323,594 people in July 2018. Concurrently, 39,490 people filed new claims in July which was a month-over increase of 604.
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. – July was a good month for real estate sales in Lake County and the rest of California.
The Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, reported that the number of single-family residential sales in Lake County for July rose by 21 percent over June sales, following a statewide trend.
There were 98 sales in July compared to 81 sales in June. In July of 2018 there were 75 sales, making the year-to-year gain 30.7 percent.
The median sales price for July was $252,2000 down 6.5 percent from the June median of $270,000. The median was up 1.0 percent over the July 2018 median of $249,900.
“Favorable interest rates have helped sales,” said 2019 LCAOR President Mary Benson. “Mortgage rates have dipped to their lowest level in nearly three years and that combined with five consecutive months of lower rates has given buyers more purchasing power.”
Financing trends remained similar to previous months and recent years. Cash buyers purchased 20.5 percent of the sold homes, conventional loans 38.8 percent and FHA 19.4 percent. VA loans accounted for 8.2 percent of the sales and USDA loans 6.1 percent.
On a statewide basis the California Association of Realtors reported that the median sales price in California for July was $607,990, down 0.4 percent from June and up 2.8 percent from July 2018.
Existing, single-family home sales totaled 441,630 in July on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 5.6 percent from June and up 1.1 percent from July 2018. July posted the first year-over-year sales gain and the highest sales level in fifteen months.
The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 3.77 percent in July, down from 4.53 percent in July 2018, according to Freddie Mac.
The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate was an average of 3.47 percent, compared to 3.84 percent in July 2018.
LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
July 2019 Median price: $252,500 Units sold: 98 Median days to sell: 37
June 2019 Median price: $270,000 Units sold: 81 Median days to sell: 35
July 2018 Median price: $249,900 Units sold: 75 Median days to sell: 45
From left, Alfredo Asher Knight, 18, and Marshall Leland Stillday, 19, both of Hopland, Calif., were arrested in connection to a shooting on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, in Boonville, Calif. Mendocino County Jail photos. NORTH COAST, Calif. – Two young Hopland men who authorities say are gang members have been arrested in connection to a shooting incident in Boonville earlier this month.
Alfredo Asher Knight, 18, and Marshall Leland Stillday, 19, were arrested on Saturday, according to a report from Sgt. Luis Espinoza of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Espinoza said that on Aug. 7 Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were asked to respond to a reported shooting which had occurred at about 10:30 p.m. in Boonville.
The call was initially reported to the California Highway Patrol’s Ukiah Dispatch and upon arrival CHP officers were able to determine the jurisdiction as being the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, Espinoza said.
Deputies met with CHP officers who advised they had located evidence directly related to the reported shooting in the parking lot of the location, according to the report.
Espinoza said the deputies spoke to the victim, who reported a silver Ford Mustang had followed him to a store in Boonville where he observed the subjects responsible for the shooting inside the store. The victim was in fear for his safety based on the vehicle following him and he waited for the suspects to leave before continuing on his travels.
Upon entering the roadway, the victim reported the same suspect vehicle began to follow him for a second time. Espinoza said the victim parked in a well-lit area in the 14400 block of Highway 128 in hopes the vehicle would continue. It did not and instead parked next to the victim a short distance away.
After waiting a short period of time, while the victim was seated in his vehicle, the suspect vehicle sped up and began to pass the victim's parked vehicle. As the suspect vehicle passed, the victim reported a single gunshot was heard and the rear window of his vehicle had evidence of a bullet passing through which was later determined to have narrowly missed striking the victim's head. The victim contacted 911 and reported the incident, Espinoza said.
At the time of the initial investigation, the only information provided was that the suspect vehicle was a generic 2013 to 2014 silver Ford Mustang. Espinoza said a check of surveillance footage was done and two suspects were tentatively identified as Marshall Stillday and Alfredo Asher Knight.
Espinoza said both suspects were known to law enforcement as being associated with a criminal street gang. The investigation continued with Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies actively looking for the vehicle and the suspects.
On Saturday, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle which contained five subjects, who were identified as Knight and Stillday. During a search of the vehicle, a loaded pistol was recovered, Espinoza said.
Espinoza said four suspects were initially arrested and following a review by the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office the other two subjects were released without formal charges.
Knight and Stillday were arrested for being a criminal street gang member carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a loaded handgun not registered to possessor, conspiracy and participating in a criminal street gang. Espinoza said Stillday was also arrested for a violation of his summary probation.
Based on the arrest of Stillday and Knight, a search warrant was authored for a residence in Hopland connected to the suspects, Espinoza said.
During the execution of the search warrant a firearm was recovered which matched the caliber of firearm believed to be the weapon used in the Aug. 7 shooting in Boonville, according to Espinoza.
Additionally, Espinoza said a silver 2013 Ford Mustang was located at the residence matching the suspect vehicle reported by the victim and witnesses.
Following additional investigations on Aug. 20, Knight and Stillday – who remained in Mendocino County Jail custody – were arrested for attempted murder, conspiracy, participating in a criminal street gang, armed in the commission of a felony and a criminal street gang member carrying a loaded firearm.
Knight remains in the Mendocino County Jail in lieu of two separate bails – $25,000 and $300,000 – while Stillday remains in custody in lieu of two separate bails, $30,000 and $300,000, Espinoza said.
Anyone with information concerning either investigation is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line at 707-234-2100 or the WeTip Anonymous Crime Reporting Hotline at 800-782-7463.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has new dogs among the group it’s offering to new homes this week.
The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.
The following dogs are ready for adoption.
“Bernard.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Bernard’
“Bernard” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
He is No. 280.
“Cadbury.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Cadbury’
“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.
She is No. 1215.
“Chase.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Chase’
“Chase” is a male shepherd mix with a medium-length brindle coat.
He is dog No. 2618.
“Frank.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Frank’
“Frank” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short black and white coat.
He is No. 2345.
“Hamilton.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Hamilton’
“Hamilton” is a male German Shepherd with a medium-length brown and black coat.
He is No. 2177.
“Melonie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Melonie’
“Melonie” is a female American Pit Bull Terrier mix with a short red and white coat.
She is No. 2428.
“Sturgill.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Sturgill’
“Sturgill” is a male Labrador Retriever mix with a medium-length yellow coat.
He is No. 2460.
“Tyson.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Tyson’
“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.
He is No. 1863.
“Wiley.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Wiley’
“Wiley” is a male German Shepherd mix with a medium-length black and brindle coat.
He is dog No. 2451.
“Zack.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Zack’
“Zack” is a male pit bull terrier mix wit a short red coat.
He is No. 2592.
Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.
Hours of operation area 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 Web site.
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.
As director of the University of Mississippi Center for Population Studies, I regularly talk to people about how they can use data to help their communities thrive.
The decennial census is particularly important – and the next one is less than a year away.
People living in rural and small town America in particular have much at stake in the 2020 census. Unfortunately, census participation tends to be lower in rural areas.
Our research network – including the State Data Center of Mississippi, Mississippi Kids Count Program and the Southern Rural Development Center – has been working to better understand potential barriers to census participation.
Valuable data
Legally mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census is an effort to count all people living on American soil for the primary purpose of apportioning political representation in the federal government. Census data are also used for drawing political boundaries for local, state and federal elections.
Researchers focusing on rural America, like myself, are concerned with many issues that census data can help us to understand.
For instance, the rate of population loss in rural America has declined and even slightly reversed in recent years. However, there can be vast differences between regions. As noted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s John Cromartie and Dennis Vilorio, “People moving to rural areas tend to persistently favor more densely settled rural areas with attractive scenic qualities, or those near large cities. Fewer are moving to sparsely settled, less scenic, and more remote locations, which compounds economic development challenges in those areas.”
2020 census data will help to improve demographers’ calculations of similar statistics to show rates and patterns of net migration. This information can be used to help leaders better understand and plan for population shifts.
Low rural turnout
If many people don’t participate in the census, the data will be far less accurate. And rural people are less likely to take part.
Analysts have been trying to better understand why some populations are harder to count. There are numerous barriers to participation in decennial censuses. Many people have limited knowledge about the census. Others distrust the government and are concerned about the confidentiality of their information.
Although rural America tends to do better on some indicators used to predict potential census participation, people who live in poverty and are isolated may be at a particular disadvantage.
In 2020, for the first time, the census will offer an avenue for online participation, with the hope this will make it easier for people to complete the questionnaire more efficiently. This is promising, but some rural places have limited access to broadband internet service.
Encouraging participation
Our research network cross-referenced Census Bureau data with data on family and poverty characteristics to identify communities we thought would be likely to have lower participation in 2020.
Identifying two rural places and one urban, we held workshops with local stakeholders, including teachers, nonprofit leaders and clergy. We discussed challenges and opportunities for participating in the 2020 census, messaging that would resonate in their communities, and strategies for further engagement.
The Census Bureau assigns each area a ‘low response score,’ a predicted rate of how many people will not respond to the census.
People can promote participation in the 2020 census by discussing it with family members, neighbors, church members and work colleagues. Materialsavailable from the U.S. Census Bureau can help.
We also emphasize that people can form or join Complete Count Committees which promote an accurate count of the population in their communities. For example, participants might coordinate census promotion campaigns within churches, or develop community celebrations that feature the civic duty of census participation.
The 2020 census will be important for all Americans, but for those who live, work and care about rural communities and small towns, it will be critically important. I hope that Americans can work together to make sure that rural areas are accurately counted if they are to get their fair share.
From left, city of Lakeport Parks Foreman Ron Ladd with his new Emergency Management Specialist Training Certificate, Lakeport Public Works Director Doug Grider and Lakeport Mayor Tim Barnes at the Lakeport City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. Photo by John Jensen/Lake County News. LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday honored the city of Lakeport’s parks foreman who has earned a state certification for emergency management.
At the Tuesday evening meeting, the Emergency Management Specialist Training Certificate was officially presented to Ron Ladd.
Ladd’s boss, Public Works Director Doug Grider, said Ladd was hired in December of 2014 as a park lead worker, a position he held until this past November, when he was promoted to his current job as parks foreman.
Grider said the city got a wake up call about disasters not long after Ladd was hired, when the Valley fire burned through the south county in September of 2015.
He said the county called the city of Lakeport in to assist in the emergency operations center. Both Grider and Ladd worked in logistics.
Ladd also would assist during the Clayton fire, dealt with the 2017 flood that impacted the city, worked in logistics on last year’s Mendocino Complex and earlier this year had still more flooding to respond to in the city, Grider said.
“In pretty short order, we had trial by fire here, literally,” Grider said.
During each disaster, Grider said Ladd stepped up and served with great skill.
Grider said Ladd’s interest in emergency management was peaked with the Valley fire, and he started training.
Since then, Grider said Ladd has been diligent in attending trainings to work in an emergency operations center.
Achieving the Emergency Management Specialist Training Certificate is a “very arduous task,” said Grider, noting the coursework he had to take, with the credentials then going to the state for review.
Ladd’s certificate, a copy of which was included in the agenda packet, was signed on March 22 by Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and Alex Cabassa, assistant Cal OES director and superintendent of the California Specialized Training Institute.
Grider pointed out that there aren’t many certifications granted. Ladd’s certificate number is 587.
The congratulatory letter from Ghilarducci to Ladd that accompanied the certificate explained that by completing the program, Ladd has “demonstrated a high level of accomplishment within the emergency management and homeland security profession.”
The letter added, “We depend on public safety and emergency management professionals such as you to ensure that the people of California are prepared for and can respond effectively to major emergencies and disasters. Your successful completion of this rigorous and comprehensive training program exemplifies your dedication to our state’s public safety mission.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set to consider the first reading of an ordinance to increase smoking restrictions for certain public places, an action being taken in response to local health concerns.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At the start of the meeting, animal shelter staff will present August’s adoptable dogs.
The council’s main item of business in open session on Thursday is consideration of the first reading of Ordinance No. 233-2019, amending city rules to add locations near businesses to the public places – such as parks – where smoking is now restricted.
Council members also will consider setting a second reading and adoption of the ordinance at its Sept. 12 meeting.
The report from Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson and Police Chief Andrew White explains, “State law regulates smoking and a local agency is also authorized to regulate smoking if the regulations are not inconsistent with state laws and the local agency makes findings and determinations that the regulations will reduce health risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke and promote the public health and welfare. As Council is aware, Lake County was recently rated the least healthy county in the state.”
Swanson and White note that at the July 25 council meeting, staff was directed to bring forward an ordinance prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of any commercial building entrance/egress. Based on that July council discussion, staff has prepared an ordinance which defines those areas and sets regulations.
Their report explains that smoking is currently prohibited in any Clearlake park, which the council passed by ordinance in 2012. “This ordinance will amend that code section in its entirety to include the additional provisions of businesses.”
Some of the details and restrictions requested by the council previously included grocery stores and multi-unit commercial retail stores, bus stops and signage, the report said.
“The proposed ordinance prohibits smoking within twenty-five feet of businesses, such as grocery stores and strip malls, as well as public recreation areas, parks, hiking trails, and service areas, such as bus stops and ATMs,” Swanson and White wrote.
They said the ordinance’s enforcement will be under the current administrative penalties section of the municipal code. “The City will have the right to require the posting of ‘No Smoking’ signs for areas that have repeated violations of the ordinance.”
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers and minutes of the July 10 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the Clearlake Management/Confidential Employees, Clearlake Police Officer Association, Clearlake Municipal Employees Association and Clearlake Middle Management Association, and a conference with legal counsel regarding an existing case of litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
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.
Volunteers take part in the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” in Kelseyville, Calif., on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Photo by Debra Sommerfield. KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A first-of-its-kind effort over the weekend removed tons of vegetation along Soda Bay Road in an attempt to protect the thousands of homes nearby.
Supervisor Rob Brown’s “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” took place on Saturday morning along a six-mile stretch of Soda Bay Road from the Clear Lake Riviera to Soda Bay.
“It was very successful,” Brown said.
County crews remove vegetation cut by volunteers along Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, Calif., on Saturday, August 17, 2019, as part of the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes.” Photo by Debra Sommerfield. He said he had never heard of such an event happening previously. He organized it to give some added buffer to protect against roadside fires in the Soda Bay corridor, where an estimated 12,000 of Lake County’s 65,000 residents live.
Brown had been seeking about 500 volunteers to work from 6 to 10 a.m. Saturday.
He said about 300 people showed up, getting so much done so quickly that the work was wrapped up by 9 a.m.
Brush trimmings on Soda Bay Road near Riviera West Drive in Kelseyville, Calif., on Saturday, August 17, 2019. The vegetation was trimmed as part of the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Clelia Baur. “It was amazing,” said Brown, who added that the area now looks so good with the roadside brush cleared and removed.
Brown said there were a surprising number of people who came from all over Lake County to assist in the effort. Among them were county employees, Cal Fire officials and homeowners association members. He said assistance also came from the Bureau of Land Management workers, Caltrans and Lake County Waste Solutions.
“I was nervous about it. I didn’t know what to expect,” he said.
Riviera West residents and volunteers clearing brush on Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, Calif., on Saturday, August 17, 2019. The vegetation was trimmed as part of the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Clelia Baur. But he said there were 100 people waiting to get started at 6 a.m., with the rest joining shortly thereafter.
They parked along Soda Bay Road, where the southbound lane was closed from Riviera Heights Drive to Point Lakeview Road, and got to work with weed wackers and hand tools. Brown said they were assisted by county crews, many of them volunteering their time.
Brown said the volunteers were tearing it up. “It looked like a bunch of volunteer beavers,” he joked.
Long-time Riviera West resident Lee Beery takes part in the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” in Kelseyville, Calif., on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Photo by Clelia Baur. “I can’t even believe how much work they got done in such a short amount of time,” Brown said, adding he appreciated and was proud of those who participated.
He said county staff has estimated that they’ve removed 40 dump truck loads of brush that volunteers cut that morning.
Brown said he is not yet sure if he will do another event soon, as it will depend on the fuel load, but he believes other supervisors are looking at holding similar events in their districts.
On Sunday, Brown followed up with a fire extinguisher giveaway at Riviera Elementary. He said there are still some of the fire extinguishers left, and he’ll be following up with an announcement on how those who still want the fire extinguishers can pick one up in Kelseyville.
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.
A partial road closure on Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, Calif., aided in keeping volunteers safe during the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Photo by Jim Rexrode.
Crystal Markytan handed out water to volunteers working along Soda Bay Road on Saturday, August 17, 2019, as part of the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Jim Rexrode.
An estimated 40 dump truck loads of vegetation cut along Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, Calif., on Saturday, August 17, 2019, were removed as part of the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Debra Sommerfield.
Supervisor Rob Brown distributes fire extinguishers at a giveaway on Sunday, August 18, 2019, in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Debra Sommerfield.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A limited number of fire extinguishers are still available for community members thanks to the efforts of a local nonprofit and a company donation.
When a fire starts, immediate action can limit the damage or even avert disaster. That was demonstrated by the fast work of first responders in the early hours of the Golf fire. With 12,000 homes in the area, getting on top of the fire right away was essential.
Frequently, 911 dispatchers receive phone calls very quickly after a fire starts. This is, in part, because so many fires start along roadsides. What if the people making those calls had a fire extinguisher, and were able to help get the initial flames out, before the fire could spread?
The Lake County Wine Alliance appreciated the value of this proactive line of thinking, and made 500 fire extinguishers available to Lake County residents.
As previously reported by LakeCoNews, Ukiah Oxygen generously provided 350 ABC chemical and 150 2.5 gallon stainless steel water-filled extinguishers at a significant discount, and the Wine Alliance funded the cost, 100 percent.
Supervisor Rob Brown said many of these fire extinguishers were given to concerned residents who want to be prepared to act to protect their communities, should they notice a developing fire, at an event on Sunday, Aug. 18, at Riviera Elementary.
He said that 100 fire extinguishers, a mix of water-filled and ABC type, will be available from Kelseyville Fire Protection District, 4020 Main St., starting Thursday, August 22.
Hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., while supplies last.
Kelseyville Fire will also provide instruction on how to use the extinguishers.
“I sincerely hope many of you will prepare to protect your families and Lake County communities, by taking advantage of this great opportunity,” Brown said.
Brown thanked Chief Joey P. Huggins and his team for their tremendous support.
For more information, call Kelseyville Fire Protection District at 707-279-4268.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The public and families are invited to join a free dedication ceremony for two new osprey educational signs installed at Lakeside County Park in Kelseyville.
The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the park, 1985 Park Drive, Kelseyville.
The signs are near the new osprey nest pole erected last February by the Redbud Audubon Society.
The pole replaced a diseased tree where an osprey pair had nested for many years. Redbud Audubon purchased and installed the pole with a $10,000 grant from Calpine Corp. to Redbud’s ongoing Osprey Fund.
Because the pole is in an open area in the center of the park, visible from all directions, the Board of Supervisors’ Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee approved $5,000 for Redbud Audubon to commission a colorful ospreys interpretive panel explaining this interesting species.
Often called the “fish hawk,” osprey dive for fish in Clear Lake and bring them to the nest to feed the family during the months of incubating and parenting several chicks.
Many Hispanic families regularly visit this popular park, so the advisory committee asked Redbud Audubon to produce two panels, one in English and one in Spanish.
The finished panels were presented to the Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday morning meeting and then installed at the park.
The 30-minute dedication on Saturday will be followed by refreshments at this free event.
Redbud Audubon encourages the public to attend and celebrate these nature education gifts to Lake County.
The Redbud Audubon Society is one of the oldest environmental organizations in Lake County. It was founded in 1976. It is a local, nonprofit organization under the auspices of The National Audubon Society.
The society holds monthly educational programs and field trips from September through May and also presents the annual Heron Days event which will be celebrating its 25th year in the spring of 2020.
Conkle began as Lake County Fair CEO in November 2017. Her last day with the fair will be Thursday, Sept. 19.
She and her fiance, Ronan O'Rourke, will relocate next month, as she’s due to begin her new job in Wyoming in Sept. 23.
The timeline of Conkle’s departure allows her to oversee the upcoming Lake County Fair, which takes place Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
Conkle is a wunderkind of fair management, having grown up in the industry.
“My mom went into labor at a fair so it’s in my blood,” she said.
She comes from a fair concessionaire family, and working at fairs with her father’s business, Conkle’s Concessions, was her first job.
So far, Conkle has worked for seven years in fair administration. Before coming to the Lake County Fair, she managed fair admissions for the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa and exhibits for the Sonoma-Marin Fair held in Petaluma, and acted as interim chief executive officer and fair manager for the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
She’s also been a member of the Western Fairs Association Board of Directors, served as Service Member Board of Directors first vice chair and International Association of Fairs and Expositions Young Professionals Initiative Zone 8 chair, and was organizing chair and board liaison for the Western Fairs Association Blue Ribbon Foundation.
“One of my ultimate career goals is to become a state fair manager,” she said, and that was a goal she believed was probably at least another decade out.
Then, earlier this summer, the Wyoming State Fair began to seek its new manager.
Conkle said she was one of more than 80 people who applied. “A few weeks ago I was taken into the top three.”
She traveled to Wyoming for the interview by the state fair board and later that afternoon she got a call asking if she was interested in the position. She accepted.
“The Wyoming State Fair is undergoing some pretty major changes with the way it’s structured,” she said, describing it as a “fresh beginning.”
The Wyoming State Fair Board – appointed by the governor – previously was an advisory board under the umbrella of the State Department of Agriculture. However, Conkle said it’s now transitioning to the first governing fair board.
The state fair manager is a governor-appointed position, Conkle said.
On Aug. 8, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon confirmed the state fair board’s selection of Conkle and her appointment.
Conkle said this is a unique opportunity for her to help the Wyoming State Fair move to its next level. “I think they’re getting ready to enter their golden age,” which she explains is when the fair is central to the community.
The Wyoming State Fair, now in its 106th year, is based in Douglas, which is located in Converse County in eastern Wyoming, about two hours north of the capital of Cheyenne. It has about 6,500 residents, Conkle said, making it comparable – and just a little larger – than Lakeport.
The state fairgrounds in Douglas is 118 acres – compared to the Lake County Fairgrounds at 34 acres – and also hosts the Douglas County Fair, which takes place earlier in the summer, Conkle said.
The Wyoming State Fair took place last week, and Conkle was there to see it in person before flying home on Friday to get back to work preparing for her last Lake County Fair.
Conkle said she and her new board will be looking at annual attendance at the Wyoming State Fair. Based on the record keeping, it looks like around 45,000 people, but she said she would venture it’s actually twice that number, noting they haven’t done the most accurate accounting previously.
That’s compared to the average 45,000 attendees at the Lake County Fair, a number that Conkle said counts exhibitors, vendors and comped passes. “That’s a pretty true count of the people who are actually on that grounds.”
Conkle said that she will help the Lake County Fair Board with recruiting her successor. Applications opened for the job this week.
She said the Lake County Fair Board would like to have someone selected by Oct. 1. However, “They want to make sure they get the best candidates possible,” so they will lengthen the recruitment period if necessary.
Applications are available on the fair Web site or at the office, 401 Martin St. For more information, call the fair office at 707-263-6181.
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.
