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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – From Oct. 6 to 12 millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4-H as part of National 4-H Week.

Lake County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and will highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.

The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is “Inspire Kids to Do,” which highlights how
4-H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement.

The positive environment provided by 4-H mentors ensures that kids in every county and parish in the country – from urban neighbourhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities ̶ are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles and are empowered with the skills to lead in life and career.

“The 4-H program guides youth to find their ‘spark’ – to find what inspires them and lead them into becoming true leaders and stewards of the community. By engaging in the various opportunities and experiences that 4-H has to offer, youth develop skills like leadership, communication, public speaking, and teamwork – all while engaging in topics of their interest which includes, but not limited to, cooking, robotics, sewing, animal science, and citizen science. All these also contribute to the UC 4-H Youth Development Program increasing access for youth to improve science literacy and healthy living.” said Car Mun Kok, Lake/Mendocino Counties 4-H youth development advisor.

In Lake County, more than 290 4-H youth and 100 volunteers are enrolled in the 4-H Club Program.

In addition, Lake County 4-H is also partnering with various after school and tribal health programs.

The Lake County 4-H Program strives to offer a variety of projects and programs to fit the needs of the youth as well as the families and to give back to the community.

Giving back to the community has always been an important part of the 4-H program and something that is strongly encouraged to all members and clubs to do.

This past year Jaden Bussard from Blue Heron 4-H club completed his All Star project where he organized and held a golf tournament which raised money for the Tango Mike Project.

Bussard is now currently creating a 4-H project based off his All Star that will have 4-H members assist the Operation Tango Mike Project at their packing parties throughout the year.

The Lake County 4-H Program is also partnering with After School and Tribal Health programs to incorporate 4-H Cooking Academy curriculum into their programs.

This hands-on, experiential, skill-based program includes seven weeks of cooking and food safety instruction.

Students learn basic nutrition information to plan meals, safely prepare and enjoy food, and try new foods like tofu, whole-wheat tortillas and zucchini.

Cooking Academy promotes the three pillars of dietary behavior change; skills, attitudes and knowledge. Students try new foods in delicious ways (attitudes), learn the skills needed to prepare fruits, vegetables, and other healthy items (skills) and increase food literacy around recipe reading and food preparation concepts (knowledge).

Next week on Tuesday October 8th Lake County 4-H will be presented with a proclamation honoring National 4-H Week at the Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting. All community members, current 4-H Families, and 4-H Alumni are invited to attend the presentation of the proclamation which will happen shortly after the Board of Supervisor meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.

One of the most anticipated events of National 4-H Week every year is 4-H National Youth Science Day, which sees hundreds of thousands of youth across the nation taking part in the world’s largest youth-led STEM challenge. The exciting theme for this year’s challenge is Game Changers, which will run throughout October.

Developed by Google and West Virginia University Extension Service, Game Changers will teach kids coding skills through fun exercises including gaming, puzzles and physical activity.

To learn more about how you can get involved, visit http://celake.ucanr.edu , find them on Facebook under @LakeCounty4HProgram or contact the 4-H Office at 707-263-6838.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County remains under a red flag warning through Sunday evening, with the area still subject to an elevated risk for the potential for a public safety power shutoff.

The red flag warning across Lake and several neighboring counties will continue until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has so far not called for a public safety power shutoff for Lake County due to the weather, however, conditions in the Sacramento Valley and foothills led to PG&E shutting off power late Saturday to about 10,300 customers in parts of Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties.

PG&E, which activated its emergency operations center to monitor conditions, said portions of Napa, Lake and Sonoma counties remain under an elevated risk for a public safety power shutoff on Sunday as well as on Wednesday and Thursday.

The weather forecast for the region notes a high pressure system that is expected to bring warmer, above-normal temperatures and breezier conditions over the next few days.

Temperatures are expected to cool on Tuesday and Wednesday, with gusting north or northeast winds from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday, prompting PG&E’s concerns that a power shutoff may be necessary.

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. – Key accomplishments in the city of Clearlake from the past year as well as plans and goals for the future were highlighted at the fourth annual “State of the City” this week.

The event was held on Wednesday evening in Austin Park.

The annual State of the City was instituted by former Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom as a way of sharing with the community how the city is striving to improve and what it has accomplished over the previous year.

Folsom left earlier this year to take the helm at Suisun City, so this was the first year Folsom’s successor, Alan Flora, oversaw the event.

The State of the City’s most notable change is that it moved from the Clearlake senior center to Austin Park, across from City Hall, where a big white tent was set up in the middle of the park.

Holding the event at Austin Park provided the opportunity to hold a groundbreaking for the major upgrades that will take place at the park over the coming year, with a new playground, band shell and dog park, along with new parking lots, lawn areas, irrigation and lighting among the key new amenities. Flora said the goal is to have the park improvements completed by May.

The event started with a Clearlake Police K9 demonstration in the area of the park that’s slated for the new dog park, along Olympic Drive near City Hall.

Officer Mark Harden put his K9 partner Zip through his paces, explaining his training and breeding and what he does – he specializes in apprehension – before letting him bite Officer Calli Batz, who had a large thick protective suit on. Zip enthusiastically bit into the protective suit as Batz – as the baiter – told him he was a good boy.

The crowd was then invited over near the park’s gazebo, where Clearlake Public Works staff demonstrated new road repair equipment in a pothole patching operation. The equipment is funded by the city’s Measure V road sales tax.

The groundbreaking for Austin Park then took place, with city council members and community leaders grabbing golden shovels and hefting some dirt to commemorate the occasion.

Collaboration, achievements highlighted

The event’s featured speakers shared a key theme, not just of achievement but how they are getting there, and that’s through collaboration and cooperation.

Clear Lake Chamber President Denise Loustalot, the city’s former mayor and a longtime local business owner, said the last four years in the city have been some of the best.

She said the chamber is now in its forever home, a redeveloped lakeside property which was made possible with the city’s help.

“I just think it’s been getting better and better every year,” she said.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said he believes the city has turned a corner, citing the Austin Park project as an example.

Sabatier, who until he took his seat on the Board of Supervisors in January had been a Clearlake City Council member, said the city has brought back code enforcement which has resulted in major improvements, as has the addition of universal garbage.

Like Loustalot, he pointed to the importance of collaboration, crediting it for getting Measure V passed.

As a supervisor, he said collaboration is key, and he’s working with city leaders to make sure they have the resources they need. He called his work as a supervisor one of the biggest challenges of his life, but added that he loves it.

Sabatier also mentioned his effort to make sure tax auctions take place so the city can recoup unpaid taxes, pointed to the fully staffed Clearlake Police Department and the work to staff up the sheriff’s office.

“Let’s keep the collaboration going,” he said.

Mayor Russ Cremer highlighted road improvements funded by Measure V. Previously, he said the city had only been able to dedicate about $100,000 a year to road work. However, Measure V has made possible $4.7 million in repairs, new equipment and increased staffing in the three years it’s been in effect.

At the same time, the city has invested $6.5 million in capital projects such as Dam Road Extension and the civic center upgrades.

The council also recently approved a major upgrade to the animal shelter – adoptable animals also were featured at the event – and City Hall is undergoing upgrades, with solar upgrades being made on city facilities including the senior center, he said.

He recognized Adventist Health Clear Lake for its contributions. President David Santos had handed Cremer a check for $100,000 during the groundbreaking, with that money to go toward a new playground for the community’s children.

Cremer said during his remarks that the new version of Austin Park will be a focal point for the city, and that effort – along with cleanup along Lakeshore Drive – is meant to draw more investment and business, especially those geared toward the county’s tourism industry.

He said he, Flora and Sabatier have been meeting with developers who are interested in building new housing in the city.

It’s an exciting time in Clearlake, said Cremer, adding that he hopes to see it regain the spirit it had when he was growing up there.

Some of the city leaders taking part in the groundbreaking at Austin Park in Clearlake, Calif., on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

Drop in crime reported

Police Chief Andrew White, who just marked his first year with the city, said he was gratified by the community’s support.

White said department priorities include engagement through social media, recruitment and retention, training and increased code enforcement. He outlined accomplishments so far, which included replacing the department’s outdated vehicle fleet, upgrading radios, improving the animal shelter, becoming a 911 public safety answer point and new Tasers and training.

In 2018, there was a 16-percent drop in violent crime and a 14-percent decrease in property crime, which followed previous years, he said.

White reported that statistics through the end of September show that the city is experiencing yet another crime decrease, this time totaling 13 percent.

He said the agency has significantly increased its proactive work in the community, thanks to additional staffing, with a 46-percent increase in traffic stops and arrests. They also regularly do special enforcement operations around the city which are based on crime trends and community input.

“We’re happy to be able to be responsive to the issues that have plagued our community and to try to make a difference,” White said.

He also noted that the council has enacted new ordinances to help with code enforcement, and is looking at the city’s rental inspection ordinance.

Flora, in his turn at the microphone, thanked White and other city staff, including City Clerk Melissa Swanson – noting he didn’t there is anyone more dedicated to the city – along with Finance Director Jill Martin and Consulting City Engineer David Swartz.

He went on to outline the city’s increased investment in infrastructure, community policing and code enforcement, all of which are shifting the needle. Clearlake, he said, is now leading by example.

Flora said the city is dedicated to leading change in the community, and driving transformation and revitalization. But all of that requires community support and a new approach.

“I ask you not to accept that negativity that is often associated with the city when you talk to people,” he said.

He offered thanks to Adventist Health; Councilman Dirk Slooten and his wife Karen, who have purchased commercial properties, fixed them up and rented them to increase the business property inventory; Citizens Caring For Clearlake, founded by Barbara Christwitz, which has undertaken a massive cleanup campaign in the city, including partnering with Clearlake Code Enforcement on some projects; and the Lake County Chamber, which has created a committee to help address the city’s image problems.

“The city cannot solve every problem,” said Flora, who called on everyone to join in making a difference any way they can.

“Are you committed to a new Clearlake? Today is the day we make the change,” Flora said.

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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The Supreme Court begins its newest session on the first Monday in October. AP/J. Scott Applewhite

The Supreme Court begins its annual session on Oct. 7 and will take up a series of cases likely to have political reverberations in the 2020 elections.

Major cases this year address the immigration program for young people (“Dreamers”) known as DACA, the Affordable Care Act (again), and public money for religious schools.

Justices will also consider cases that involve several aspects of defendants’ rights: whether criminal convictions require a unanimous jury, minors can be given a life sentence and a state can abolish the insanity defense.

Some of the most important rulings will address the recognition of rights by the conservative court: gay rights, gun rights and Native rights.

These cases focus on perhaps the deepest divide on the court: Should the justices base their rulings on the contemporary meaning of words in our laws (or in the Constitution itself) as the public understanding of those concepts changes over time?

Or should they insist that our laws can only be changed from their original meaning by the country’s democratic representatives, who are directly accountable to the people?

Gay rights

The justices will consider three cases on LGBT employment rights.

Gerald Bostock was fired by Clayton County, Georgia, because he is gay. Donald Zarda was fired from his job as a tandem sky-dive instructor for being gay (before his death in a BASE-jumping accident). Aimee Stephens transitioned from male to female identity and was fired from her job as a funeral director.

These cases turn on one word’s meaning: the word “sex” in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Does “sex” mean what legislators thought it meant when the law was passed, barring discrimination against women? Or should it be interpreted more broadly now to mean discrimination against any aspect of sexuality?

Gun rights

It has been almost a decade since the court recognized a fundamental right for individual citizens to bear arms. That case was MacDonald v. Chicago, from the city with the highest total number of gun deaths in the nation.

Since that time, the looming question has been what sort of restrictions would be considered constitutional.

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. New York City puts this question to the test. Licensed gun owners were prevented from transporting firearms outside of their homes, even to a second home or to a shooting competition outside the city. The court must decide if this is a reasonable regulation that leaves the essential right to bear arms intact.

In the midst of growing concern over mass shootings, the ruling may have ramifications for future attempts at gun regulations.

To raise the political stakes even further, five U.S. senators in their now infamous “enemy-of-the-Court” brief threaten that if the court does not dismiss the case, the Senate will have to consider adding more justices to the court in an attempt to shift its partisan balance, known as “packing the Court.”

Native rights

The least-known but potentially most important case of the year is not about widely-discussed gay rights or gun rights, but about Native rights.

Sharp v. Murphy began as a dispute over jurisdiction in a murder prosecution. But it has become a potentially influential case about who represents the rightful government of Eastern Oklahoma.

The historic reservations of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole Nations comprise 40% of Oklahoma land. These tribes were forcibly removed from the eastern U.S. to the Oklahoma Territory in the 1830s, some making the journey along the infamous Trail of Tears.

Since then, parts of their reservation land have been seized by the state government or sold to private citizens, so they are no longer part of the reservation. This includes the city of Tulsa.

The argument in the case is that according to the original treaties the petitioners are asking the court to uphold, those lands are rightfully still under the government of the tribes. What exactly this means in terms of ownership and governance is unclear.

This may at first appear to be a small case about a piece of the American West. But if the Native rights claim is recognized by the court, it may also apply in later cases to a surprisingly large proportion of the United States that was once “Indian country” under official treaties. That is why 10 states filed a friend-of-the-court brief arguing against the Native rights claim.

A map submitted as an exhibit in the Supreme Court case about the boundaries of tribal reservations in Oklahoma. Supreme Court

Bigger implications

The Native rights claims at issue are not individual rights of the type the U.S. Constitution generally contemplates. They are rights held by an ethnic group. The question of who belongs to the group – and hence has access to the group right – is a divisive one because any answer includes some members while excluding others who claim the same identity.

It also is reminiscent of another proposed group right that is being debated in American politics: reparations. This summer the U.S. Congress held contentious hearings to discuss possible payments as reparations for slavery.

But payments to whom? Both Native Americans and African Americans share a distinct problem yet to be solved: how to determine who is a member of the group.

So in the case of reparations: Would they be paid only to direct descendants of slaves? To all African American descendants no matter when their progenitors arrived in the U.S.? To all people who have any black ancestors regardless of their current status or wealth?

Many Native tribes use what’s called the “blood quantum” approach, which forces individuals to document their lineage and proportional ancestry to prove membership. But scholars in this area argue that this approach is fraught with complications in many contexts.

Election 2020

Democratic presidential hopefuls have already grappled with questions around tribal membership and the country’s history of racism. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has dealt with a damaging controversy over her claims to Native American ancestry. Former Vice President Joe Biden has come under fire for his earlier opposition to reparations.

In terms of both legal and political influence, Sharp v. Murphy is a case with potentially major ramifications. And with the combined focus on politically divisive issues like gay rights, gun rights and Native rights, this year’s docket is likely to have an unusually strong presence in the 2020 campaigns.

[ Like what you’ve read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversation’s daily newsletter. ]The Conversation

Morgan Marietta, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell

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

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Move over super heroes, and look around, every Californian can be a hero if they know and practice fire safety skills.

As Fire Prevention Week takes place Oct. 6 to 12, planning and practicing a safe escape is the key to getting out of a house fire or wildfire in time.

“Being aware of your surroundings is an ability people need to use wherever they go,” said Cal Fire Director Thom Porter. “No matter where you are, look for two ways out. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit immediately. If you are in a wildfire situation, leave early.”

Complacency can result in disaster. Now is the time to educate yourself and your family about the small but important actions to keep everyone safe.

Start with a home escape plan and practice it monthly, during the day and at night so it becomes muscle memory.

Have an outside meeting place that your family knows where to go and to stay at, and have a communication plan in place.

In a wildfire, don’t wait to evacuate. If it’s an uncomfortable situation, leave early and make sure to take your pets and important items with you.

“Your ability to get out safely depends on advance planning and warning,” said California State Fire Marshal Mike Richwine. “Per the National Fire Protection Association, only one out of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. While 71 percent of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 47 percent of those have practiced it. We can do better.”

By being a hero, you can be someone who takes small, but important actions to keep yourself and those around you safe from fire?

When it comes to fire safety, be the hero in your household and your community.

Here are a few things you can do:

– Make an escape plan, practice your plan monthly during the day and at night to make sure that children and adults react to the smoke alarm and know what to do.
– Draw a map of each level of the home. Show two ways out of every room.
– Have an outside meeting place like a mailbox, tree, or light. Call 911 from your meeting place.
– Children, older adults and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone helps them.
– Install smoke alarms inside every sleeping area, in hallways outside of sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
– If people are trapped, firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them. Firefighters have the training, experience and protective equipment needed to enter burning buildings.

Become a hero by learning fire safety skills to protect you, your family, and your community.

For more detailed information, visit www.readyforwildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov .
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A new no-stopping/no-parking zone on Konocti Road in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo courtesy of the Kelseyville Unified School District.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – To improve traffic flow on Konocti Road between 7:30 and 8 a.m. when students are dropped off for school, the Lake County Road Department just changed the road to a no-stopping/no-parking zone.

The agency has painted the curbs red to display the change.

Kelseyville Unified School District Superintendent Dave McQueen said, “This has been in the works for a while; the traffic is terrible in the mornings. To improve the situation, people dropping off high school students at the crosswalk in front of the school on Konocti Road will need to drive up to the high school and drop off their students there.”

Kelseyville High School, Kelseyville Elementary School and Mountain Vista Middle School are located in close proximity.

“Parents of students at all three schools end up waiting for kids to jump out at the crosswalk, which brings everything to a standstill,” McQueen said.

McQueen recognizes that the red curbs “won't totally fix the long wait lines in the morning, but they will at least help some, and more importantly, they’ll help keep kids safe.”

He encourages parents to heed the new status for safety and because he does not want parents to get ticketed.

“I spoke with California Highway Patrol Sergeant Josh Dye who let me know CHP officers will be patrolling the area and may ticket people who don’t obey the no-stopping and no-parking restrictions,” McQueen said.

McQueen explained that Kelseyville Unified School District is continuing to work with the Lake County Road Department to develop ways to help the flow of traffic on Konocti Road in the mornings.

In the meantime, if parents do not have time to drop off their students and make it to work, Kelseyville Unified offers free bussing for all students who live within the district boundaries.

To stay up to date with Kelseyville Unified news and events, visit https://kvusd.org/.

Lake County Road Department at work in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo courtesy of the Kelseyville Unified School District.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several kittens and an adult cat ready to be adopted this week.

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

This male domestic short hair kitten is in kennel V No. 10, ID No. 13033. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Domestic short hair kitten

This male domestic short hair kitten has a gray tabby and white coat.

He is in kennel V No. 10, ID No. 13033.

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

Domestic short hair kitten

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

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

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

Male domestic short hair cat

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

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

This male brown tabby is in cat room kennel No. 143, ID No. 13006. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male brown tabby

This male brown tabby has a long coat and green eyes.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 143, ID No. 13006.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several new dogs this week, including younger canines needing homes.

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Australian Shepherd, beagle, Chihuahua, Labrador Retriever, pit bull, pug, shepherd and terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

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

“Marley” is a male terrier mix in kennel No. 14, ID No. 13047. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Marley’

“Marley” is a male terrier mix with a tan coat.

He is in kennel No. 14, ID No. 13047.

This male terrier is in kennel No. 15, ID No. 13027. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male terrier

This male terrier has a short tricolor coat.

He is in kennel No. 15, ID No. 13027.

“Trooper” is a young male Labrador Retriever-boxer mix in kennel No. 16, ID No. 12971. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Trooper’

“Trooper” is a young male Labrador Retriever-boxer mix with a black and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 16, ID No. 12971.

This male Labrador Retriever is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 12930. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever has a short yellow coat.

He is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 12930.

“Lola” is a female pug in kennel No. 22, ID No. 12974. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Lola’

“Lola” is a female pug with a short tan coat.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 22, ID No. 12974.

“Pluto” is a male Labrador Retriever in kennel No. 25, ID No. 12850. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Pluto’

“Pluto” is a male Labrador Retriever with a short black and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. 12850.

This male beagle is in kennel No. 26, ID No. 13028. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male beagle

This male beagle has a short tan and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 26, ID No. 13028.

“Benny” is a young male shepherd in kennel No. 27, ID No. 12717. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Benny’

“Benny” is a young male shepherd with a short brindle coat.

He has been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 27, ID No. 12717.

“Bella” is a young female Australian Shepherd-terrier mix in kennel No. 28a, ID No. 13016. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Bella’

“Bella” is a young female Australian Shepherd-terrier mix with a short brown and spotted coat.

She has already been spayed.

She is in kennel No. 28a, ID No. 13016.

“Edward” is a young male Australian Shepherd-terrier mix in kennel No. 28b, ID No. 13017. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Edward’

“Edward” is a young male Australian Shepherd-terrier mix with a medium-length black and white coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 28b, ID No. 13017.

“Hanzel” is a young male Australian Shepherd-terrier mix in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13020. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Hanzel’

“Hanzel” is a young male Australian Shepherd-terrier mix with a medium-length brindle and whit ecoat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13020.

This male Chihuahua is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 13025. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male Chihuahua

This male Chihuahua has a short tricolor coat.

He is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 13025.

This male Chihuahua is in kennel No. 33, ID No. 13018. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male Chihuahua

This male Chihuahua has a short brindle coat.

He is in kennel No. 33, ID No. 13018.

“Coco” is a female Labrador Retriever in kennel No. 34, ID No. 12764. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Coco’

“Coco” is a female Labrador Retriever with a short black and white coat.

Coco is in kennel No. 34, ID No. 12764.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Jon Hayden Ferrer, 41, of Lakeport, Calif., was arrested on Thursday, October 3, 2019, for several charges in a case involving a stolen bicycle. Lake County Jail photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Authorities took a Lakeport man into custody on Thursday for theft of an expensive mountain bike this spring.

Jon Hayden Ferrer, 41, was arrested in the case, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Paulich said that on Thursday the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a citizen who had previously reported a Specialized mountain bike stolen from the Kelseyville area in May. The mountain bike was valued at $7,300.

The victim told deputies that they had located their stolen bike on eBay and someone was currently trying to sell it, Paulich said.

Paulich said sheriff’s detectives were able to obtain information from eBay related to the person who had posted the bike online.

Detectives were able to make contact with this person, who told them they had posted the bike on eBay for a friend. Paulich said detectives were provided information for the location of the bike and the person who was in possession of it, identified as Ferrer.

The detectives attempted to make contact with Ferrer at his residence on Alterra Drive in Lakeport, but no one would answer the door, Paulich said.

Paulich said detectives later obtained and served a search warrant at Ferrer’s residence. As deputies were entering the residence, Ferrer attempted to flee by jumping over a fence at the rear of the residence and was taken into custody.

Detectives located the stolen bike inside the residence as well as a small amount of methamphetamine, according to Paulich’s report.

Ferrer told detectives he had purchased the bike from a Hispanic male three to four months ago in Kelseyville. Paulich said Ferrer could not provide any information regarding the Hispanic male and claimed he did not know the bike was stolen.

Paulich said Ferrer was booked into custody at the Lake County Jail on charges of grand theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. Ferrer later posted bail and was released.

Ferrer’s booking sheet said he is due to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Monday.


This Specialized mountain bike was stolen from Kelseyville, Calif., in May 2019 and recovered on Thursday, October 3, 2019, in Lakeport, Calif. Lake County Sheriff’s Office photo.

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If you look closely at this flame skimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturate), you’ll see its front legs tucked in around its neck and behind its eyes while it perches. This provides extra support for the dragonfly’s thread-like neck and allows the eyes to focus more accurately on their surroundings. Photo by Mary K. Hanson.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sometimes you may see dragonflies standing with their rear up in the air.

Why are they doing that? Or you may see them perching, and it looks like they only have four legs instead of six. Where did the other two legs go?

Let’s find out.

Many dragonflies, and most specifically those species which perch a lot rather than fly a majority of the time, use that rear-up-in-the-air posture, called the “obelisk stance,” for a couple of different reasons.

In a species like the blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) or the common whitetail (Libellula lydia), the posture can be used as a threat. Both of these species excrete a kind of waxy substance, or pruinosity, onto their abdomens which gives the surface a sort of dusty or frosty look to them.

Not all dragonflies have this pruinescence, but those that do often use it in part to help them recognize members of their own species, attract mates and to make themselves look more formidable when they’re defending their territories.

Blue dashers will raise their abdomens in the obelisk position and orient their bodies to the sun in order to reflect light off that pruinocity and flash bright-white warnings to other males to stay off their turf.

Another facet of the pruinescence is that it can reflect ultraviolet light, which helps the dasher thermoregulate. Dashers, like all dragonflies are ectothermic which means they need outside influences to help them regulate their body temperature. Generally, shade to cool off, sunlight to warm up.

So, what about the dragonflies that have no pruinocity? They use the obelisk position to thermoregulate as well, but in a slightly different fashion. When their bodies or flight gear become overheated, dragonflies like the variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum), will straighten their bodies out in the obelisk position so that only the tip of the abdomen is getting direct sunlight and the rest of their body is casting a shadow over the powerpack on their back that houses their flight muscles.

This blue dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) lifts his tail in the obelisk position and orients his body to face the sun in order to make the frosty looking pruinescence on his body flash a bright warning to other dragonflies to stay away from his turf. Photo by Mary K. Hanson.

If the powerpack gets too hot or too cold, the dragonfly can’t fly – and flight is essential to these insects. They can’t find mates, defend their territories or eat without it. So, keeping that powerpack at just the right temperature ensures their survival.

A modified obelisk position can also help the dragonfly to warm up on chilly mornings. It will turn its back to face the sun and lift its abdomen so that the sunlight strikes as much of the body and wing surface as possible. Even a fraction of a degree is enough to make a difference.

As I mentioned, flight is at the heart of all dragonfly activity, and dragonflies are amazing fliers. Each of their four wings can move independently from one another and can flap as quickly as 90-beats per second.

The top forward-motion flight speed of the larger dragonflies can get up to 60 miles per hour. They can also fly backwards, zigzag and hover in the blink of an eye. Now, try to imagine the impact that speed and maneuverability can have on the dragonfly’s head, neck and body.

The dragonfly’s large bulbous head (made up primarily of the eyes) is attached to its body by a fine thread-like neck. The neck is flexible enough to allow the dragonfly to tilt its head sideways up to 180 degrees, drop its head about 40 degrees and lift the head about 70 degrees, but it’s relatively weak.

In fact, most dragonflies have special “arrester systems” built of tiny microsculptures to help support the head, especially when in flight. But some dragonflies augment those arresters by using their front legs.

On occasion you may see a dragonfly fold its two front legs on either side of the neck when its perching to help stabilize the head so the eyes can focus more clearly on what’s around it. And in flight, some dragonflies tuck the front legs up behind their eyes to protect the neck from the g-forces and sudden changes in trajectory the dragonfly experiences in flight.

So, that’s why you sometimes see dragonflies that look like they only have four legs instead of six (or no legs at all).

Pretty interesting, huh? Look more closely at the next dragonflies you see and try to discover what other unique and fascinating characteristics and adaptations they may have.

Mary K. Hanson is a Certified California Naturalist, author, nature photographer and blogger. She also teaches naturalist classes through Tuleyome, a501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization based in Woodland, California. For more information, visit www.tuleyome.org.
This male variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) is positioning himself in the obelisk position to shade his wing muscles and the majority of his body from direct sunlight. By the way, the “white stuff” under his body on the broken tule is the exuvia (shed skin) of dozens of damselfly nymphs, and that’s a Northern Bluet damselfly (Enallagma annexum) in the background. Photo by Mary K. Hanson.
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An artist's illustration of dust grains blowing in the winds of a quasar, or active black hole. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Joe Nuth loves dust. Among astronomers, that puts him in a minority.

“The traditional astronomers — the people looking at galaxies and stars — they hate dust,” said Nuth, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “It’s the stuff that’s in their way.”

Like the Earthly dust that gathers under your bed, cosmic dust is hard to avoid. “It’s about two percent of the total stuff, from here to anywhere,” said Nuth. But it doesn’t take up all that space for nothing.

Dust condenses into asteroids and planets. Giant dust clouds can carry gases from a dying star to fertilize a new one. Dust surrounding young planets can keep them warm, providing surfaces for water to collect and organic molecules to form. But whether any of these effects occurs depends on just how these tiny dust grains are constructed, at the smallest of scales.

That’s why Nuth is launching the Determining Unknown yet Significant Traits, or DUST sounding rocket.

A collaboration between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the rocket will make a brief flight into space, carrying lab equipment into a zero-gravity environment.

There, Nuth and his team will build dust grains of their very own, hoping to shed light on the outsized role these tiny specks play in our universe. DUST’s first opportunity to launch from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico begins on Oct. 7, 2019.

As prevalent as it may be, cosmic dust doesn’t form easily. Dust grains are born when individual atoms collide and stick to one another. But in space, direct collisions are rare (the space where dust forms is about 2.7 billion times less dense than air at sea level).

Even when atoms collide, they may not stick. In a previous experiment, Nuth found that for every 100,000 collisions between zinc atoms, only three stick to a growing dust crystal.

Once a few atoms cram together, a wobbly Jenga-like tower emerges. “You’re going up a ladder of instability,” said Nuth. “Small clusters really want to fall apart.” But if you can surround enough atoms on all sides, the system starts to stabilize. You have a growing dust grain.

It’s when dust grains themselves collide that things get interesting. If they pack together like snow into snowballs, they don’t react much with light or heat. But if they instead link together into lacy, snowflake-like structures, they do much more. Such crystalline dust aggregates catch starlight like a sail, whisking gases from one star to the next. They also trap heat, potentially changing the fate of planets they cover.

“If you’ve got a growing planet surrounded by a dusty blanket, that’s a different thermal environment than without,” said Nuth. “Dust affects the way planets grow.”

But how these dust grains form and aggregate together is still not well understood. Figuring that out may pay major returns across space physics.

A sample of cosmic dust collected from Earth’s stratosphere. The grain is about five micrometers across – approximately the size of a human red blood cell. Credits: NASA’s Johnson Space Center/Cosmic Dust Collection Program.

Collecting dust

So far, Nuth has done most of his work in the lab, but Earth’s gravity imposes severe limitations. His experiments require heating materials to well over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.

But such high temperatures create convection — the churning of air that happens in your oven — that doesn’t happen in deep space. “To measure dust grain growth, we need a constant environment,” said Nuth. To get that, you need to go to microgravity.

Nuth teamed up with his former postdoc Yuki Kimura of Hokkaido University in Japan to launch lab equipment into space. The payload, designed by Kimura, weighs about 330 pounds. “It’s about as big as a small motorbike,” said Kimura.

Inside, a set of metal wires coated with magnesium silicates — would-be dust particles — are waiting for launch. Once the rocket enters space and experiences microgravity, the wire heats up and the atoms and molecules diffuse away. Some collide, stick, and begin to form dust grains; others won’t.

Using spectroscopy and other measures, the DUST experiment will measure when grains start to grow and link together into aggregates, noting at what temperature and density they do the best. The payload will then fall back to Earth to be collected for further analysis.

When the dust settles

Even before retrieving the payload, Nuth will be in the lab working on the Earth-based part of the experiment. His question is whether dust grain formation could be simpler than expected.

In principle, dust grains can form from any of the 92 naturally-occurring elements in the periodic table. “But it’s very tough to model,” said Nuth. Each element has its own quirks; taking them all into account at once is a major challenge.

In previous experiments, Nuth learned that some elements block one another: If iron gets into a growing dust grain, for instance, it tends to keep magnesium out. He’s exploring this behavior in the lab, hoping to reduce a 92-variable equation into something much more manageable. “It’s much easier if you only have to worry about one or two particular materials,” said Nuth.

The results from the rocket, paired with Nuth’s work in the lab, aim to shed light on how the dusty two percent of our visible universe works. Overall, the DUST experiment reminds us that the key to the unimaginably large sometimes lies in the incredibly tiny.

The DUST sounding rocket will launch from the White Sands Missile Range on a Black Brant IX rocket. During its approximately 14 minute flight, the rocket will reach an estimated altitude of 200 miles before falling back to Earth for recovery.

NASA's Sounding Rockets Program is managed at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility, which is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. NASA's Heliophysics Division funds the Sounding Rockets Program for the agency.

Miles Hatfield works for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
The Cat’s Eye Nebula (NGC 6543) is a dying Sun-like star that ejected its outer layers into space. The concentric rings surrounding it are clouds of cosmic dust. Credits: NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute/Hubble Space Telescope.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry’s (D-Winters) has succeeded in her efforts to secure $2.2 million in state funding to replace County Road 40 low water bridge in Yolo County, a project that will give improved access to surrounding counties, including Lake.

The funding was included Senate Bill 109, which was signed by Gov. Newson last week, to provide funding for the project through Cal Fire local assistance grants.

The existing CR 40 low water bridge is a critical fire access road into the rural reaches of Yolo, Lake and Napa counties.

The bridge has deteriorated significantly since being built over 100 years ago and is unable to support the weight of fire-fighting apparatuses or other vehicles, hampering Cal Fire’s efforts to gain access to this fire-prone region.

“Through the fierce and tireless advocacy of Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, funding for the CR 40 low water bridge has been secured,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Don Saylor. “This project will greatly enhance fire safety in northern Yolo County and the region.”

“Replacing the CR 40 low water bridge has been a longstanding priority for me as a measure of both fire protection and recreational use,” said Yolo County Supervisor for District 5 Duane Chamberlain. “I applaud Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry for this remarkable achievement.”

“Forcing emergency response personnel to take extra hours to respond to wildfires and other disasters in Yolo, Napa and Lake Counties is inexcusable,” said Aguiar-Curry. “Just like our efforts to respond to the wildfires of the past several years, this victory was a true partnership with my colleagues on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and county staff, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. I appreciate Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon’s efforts to fight for this critical project, and the Governor for supporting it with his signature.”

In 2017, Aguiar-Curry and Yolo County secured $800,000 in the state budget for design and engineering of the replacement bridge.

Bridge construction is slated to begin in 2020.

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