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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The acreage of a fire burning east of Clearlake Oaks since Sunday evening has been held to minimal growth.

On Monday evening, Cal Fire said the Cache fire was up slightly to 120 acres.

Containment at that point also was up to 70 percent, Cal Fire said.

The fire was first reported shortly after 5 p.m. in an area south of Highway 20 and east of New Long Valley Road near the Cache Creek Recreation Area, according to radio reports.

Officials have so far not given a cause for the fire.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Cal Fire firefighters ignite unburned vegetation within the Ranch fire's perimeter in the area of Black Diamond Ridge in the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California. Photo courtesy of the US Forest Service.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters pushed the Mendocino Complex closer to full containment on Monday, continuing burning operations in the rugged backcountry that have helped slow the complex’s progress.

Cal Fire said the Mendocino Complex rose to 459,102 acres and 90-percent containment by Monday evening after growing nearly 8,000 more acres during the previous 24 hours.

The Ranch fire reached 410,182 acres and 90-percent containment on Monday night, according to the report. It’s the only portion of the complex still actively burning after the River fire was fully contained at 48,920 acres earlier this month.

Full containment is expected to be reached on Sept. 1, Cal Fire said.

As containment reached the 90-percent mark, personnel and equipment were rolled back on the complex. Cal Fire said 2,440 personnel were assigned on Monday night – a reduction of about 600 from the previous day. Also remaining assigned are 120 engines, 62 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 71 hand crews and 28 dozer.

The improved conditions also led to Glenn County lifting the mandatory evacuation orders for all areas east of the Mendocino National Forest boundary on Monday. The advisory evacuation also was lifted for the community of Elk Creek.

A Cal Fire hand crew stands watch over a flareup near containment lines along Black Diamond Ridge in the Mendocino National Forest on the Mendocino Complex in Northern California. Photo courtesy of the US Forest Service.

Officials said full closures remain in effect for the Mendocino National Forest, except for forest residents with permits and proof of residency, as well as for the Bureau of Land Management’s Cow Mountain Recreation Area.

The continued growth on the complex has been attributed to firing operations on the northeastern sections of the fire, according to Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service, which hold unified command on the incident.

Officials said the firing operations are expected to continue on interior portions of the burned area, focusing on reinforcing containment in the northeastern areas of the fire as weather conditions permit.

Fire crews continue to build and reinforce containment lines and mop up throughout the north and northeastern portions of the fire area, while fire suppression repair efforts remain under way in the northwestern portions of the fire, officials said.

The burning operations have helped the overall firefighting effort but have contributed to the smoky air that has continued to hang over Lake and its surrounding counties.

An air quality forecast for the region can be found here: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/MendocinoNationalForest-SacramentoValleyArea.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.


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The “WildHare” quilt block on the Lake County Quilt Trail in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Quilt Trail.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – WildHare Vineyard has received a quilt block that’s been added to the Lake County Quilt Trail.

It is located at 2464 Bell Hill Road in Kelseyville.

Owners Elaine and Allan Sonneville’s property has organic Merlot grapes that were planted in the 1970s.

Their property also has organic walnuts and olives.

The vineyard has changed owners several times but has always been called WildHare Vineyard.

The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.

The 4-foot by 4-foot quilt block was drawn and painted by the Lake County Quilt Trail team.

The team is a group of dedicated volunteer quilters, graphic artists, painters, writers and carpenters.

For more information about the Lake County Quilt Trail visit www.lakecountyquilttrail.com or visit the trail’s Facebook page.
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Kenny Neal. Courtesy photo.


UPPER LAKE, Calif. – After a hot and smoky summer, the 12th annual Blue Wing Blues Festival is back and offering a weekend of great music and food, and room to dance and relax.

The Kenny Neal Family Band from Louisiana was to have been the featured attraction at the festival’s August dates, cancelled when the town of Upper Lake had to be evacuated due to the Ranch fire.

When Kenny learned about the disruption to life caused by the fires in Lake County, he volunteered to bring the band back out from Baton Rouge to do two make-up dates over the Labor Day weekend, Saturday Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2.

“We already had the great Rick Estrin and the Nightcats scheduled for the Labor Day Monday September 3,” said Blue Wing owner Bernie Butcher, “so when Kenny offered to come back that weekend, it was a no-brainer for us!”

Starting at 6:15 p.m. each day (gates open at 5:30), these top blues musicians plus opening bands will perform on the veranda of the Hotel with the audience gathered in the intimate garden between the Hotel and Restaurant. The ticket price of $50 plus tax includes a barbeque dinner.

Acclaimed entertainer brings Louisiana blues to Lake County

Kenny Neal is one of the legends of the Louisiana blues scene, an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist widely renowned as a swamp-blues master.

He learned music at an early age from his father, the singer and blues harmonica player Raful Neal.

Kenny Neal tours the country with members of his famous family, two of whom (Darnell and Frederick) will be with him at the Blue Wing.

“We got to know Kenny when he lived in the Bay Area before moving back to Baton Rouge,” said Butcher. “He brought down the house at our Festival in 2012 and subsequently did a great show at the Soper-Reese. When in the area I try to get him back, and very much appreciate the special effort he’s making this time.”

Opening for Neal will be two exceptional local bands. On Saturday, Sept. 1, it will be the master blues guitarist Howard Reggie Dockens and his band, consisting of Lynn Bryant on keyboards, Robert Watson on bass and Billy Johnson on drums.

The opener on Sunday, Sept. 2, will be one of the most accomplished Lake County bands, “Clean Sweep,” led by blues harp virtuoso Pat Gleeson.

Other band members are Mike Gymnaites (guitar), Keith Crossan (sax), Joanie Lane (vocals), Dave Falco (bass) and John Sheridan (drums). Sitting in for David Neft on keyboards will be the one-and-only Queen of Boogie Woogie, Wendy DeWitt.

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats. Courtesy photo.

Harmonica and fiery guitar

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats top the bill on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 3. Estrin ranks among the very best harmonica players, singers and songwriters in the blues world today.

His quick wit and signature look – coiffed hair, pencil-thin mustache and sharp attire – add even more color to his performances.

The fiery guitarist Kid Anderson leads the other Nightcats consisting of Lorenzo Farrell on bass and keys and J. Hansen on percussion.

Opening for the Nightcats on Labor Day will be Red’s Blues Band from Sacramento, an accomplished trio consisting of Dave Earl on guitar and harmonica, R. W. Grigsby on bass and vocalist Beth Reid-Grigsby.

“I’d like to thank the many excellent local businesses that have continued to sponsor the Festival through this difficult time,” said Butcher. “I think they all see the expanded Labor Day weekend event and another example of ‘Lake County Strong’.”

Full sponsors of the festival this year include local wineries Brassfield, Chacewater, Dancing Crow, Fults Family, Six Sigma and Steele plus Bicoastal Media (KNTI and KXBX), Kelseyville Lumber and Joy Swetnam.

Also sponsoring are Bill and Patti Brunetti, Blues Express Records, Gregory Graham Wines, Jonas Heating and Cooling, Judy Conard, Lake County Record-Bee, Lincoln-Leavitt Insurance, Mark Prichard, Mary Heare Amodio, Obsidian Ridge Wines, O’Meara Brothers Brewery, Perkowski Custom Apparel, R Vineyards, RB Pest Control, Shannon Ridge Wines, Sysco Foods, TFI Plaza Lakeport and UCC Rentals.

Tickets at $50 plus tax include a BBQ dinner and are limited to 100 each evening.

They may be purchased directly at the Tallman Hotel, located on Main St. in Upper Lake, or by calling the hotel reception desk at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.
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A tanker drops retardant on the Cache fire east of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Sunday, August 26, 2018. Photo by Dave Hughes.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Firefighters are gaining containment on a wildland fire that began Sunday evening east of Clearlake Oaks.

The Cache fire is located in an area south of Highway 20 and east of New Long Valley Road near the Cache Creek Recreation Area, according to radio reports.

By Sunday night, it was reported to be 105 acres and 20-percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

The fire was first dispatched just before 5:15 p.m. Sunday, as Lake County News has reported.

Cal Fire, Northshore Fire and Lake County Fire were among the agencies sending resources to the incident on Sunday evening, based on reports from the scene. Engines also were sent from the nearby Mendocino Complex.

A tanker drops retardant on the Cache fire east of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., and near Highway 20 on Sunday, August 26, 2018. Photo by Dave Hughes.


Both air and ground resources worked the fire, with tankers and copters clearing ahead of nightfall.

There had been concerns that the fire would jump Highway 20, but as of late Sunday that hadn’t occurred, based on radio reports.

Incident command put in a resource order on Sunday night for four strike teams of engines, six strike teams of crews, four dozers and three helicopters in order to be ready to continue the work to contain the blaze on Monday morning.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The column of smoke from the Cache fire east of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Sunday, August 26, 2018. Photo by Jim Burton.
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A helicopter drops water on the Cache fire east of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Sunday, August 26, 2018. Photo by Dave Hughes.


CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Firefighters from several agencies are working to contain a wildland fire that began Sunday evening east of Clearlake Oaks.

The Cache fire was first dispatched just before 5:15 p.m. in an area near Highway 20 and east of New Long Valley Road near the Cache Creek Recreation Area.

Radio reports indicated it’s on the south side of the highway, with the possibility of spotting over Highway 20.

The first units on scene put the fire at about five to 10 acres, with one structure threatened, moving uphill against the wind with a slow rate of spread. It’s reported to be in the burn scar of the 2015 Rocky fire.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m., incident command reported the fire was 10 to 15 acres, with power lines down on the fire’s right flank.

As of just before 6 p.m., concerns about the possibility the fire would jump the highway led to the request over the air for 10 additional engines.

Close to 20 engines – including several Cal Fire engines from the Mendocino Complex – have been requested, along with eight tankers, five dozers, six crews, three water tenders and numerous helicopters, according to radio reports.

A short time after 6 p.m., the fire was reported to be between 100 and 150 acres, according to incident command.

Northshore Fire, Lake County Fire, Cal Fire and later Kelseyville Fire had been dispatched as of 6:30 p.m.

Additional updates will be posted as they become available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – County officials said that recent tests have confirmed new findings of West Nile virus in Lake County.

This week’s sentinel chicken testing showed that one of the birds from the Upper Lake flock tested positive for WNV.

Earlier this month, four mosquito samples from Lake County tested positive for West Nile, as Lake County News has reported. The positive samples were collected in Lower Lake (1), Middletown (2), and Upper Lake (2), and all four were the same species, Culex tarsalis, also known as the western encephalitis mosquito.

“This is typically the peak of the West Nile virus season, and activity continues through September,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “Mosquitoes are still biting, and it’s important for residents to dump out any water where the mosquitoes can develop. To control mosquitoes in ponds, water features, livestock water tanks, or pools and spas that are not being maintained, residents can pick up mosquito-eating fish for free from our office.”

“If you plan to be outside when mosquitoes are active, use insect repellent applied according the directions on the label and reapply as directed,” said Dr. Erin Gustafson, Lake County deputy health officer.

Dr. Gustafson added, “When we see chickens becoming positive for West Nile virus, the conditions are right for transmission to humans. It is important for medical providers to have an increased awareness and test for West Nile virus when they have a suspicion.”

The district encourages residents to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by:

· Dumping or draining standing water to prevent mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle.
· Defending yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow the label directions.
· Avoiding the outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.

So far this year, West Nile virus activity has been detected in four mosquito samples and one sentinel chicken in Lake County.

Statewide, 35 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquitoes and dead birds.

Thirty-one human cases of West Nile virus illness have been reported in California residents this year. The most recent confirmed case of WNV infection in Lake County was in 2016.

Most people – 80 percent – with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint, pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).

· Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
· Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
· Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.
· About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.

If you develop the symptoms described above, see your health care provider, who can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection.

To learn more about testing, visit the CDC’s Healthcare Providers page.

There are no vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection available for humans.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms. In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication and nursing care, officials said.

If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease, talk with your health care provider.

Mosquitoes that transmit WNV develop in the standing water found in out-of-service swimming pools and spas, animal watering troughs, ornamental ponds, rain barrels, and similar sources.

Swimming pools and spas that aren’t maintained can produce thousands of biting mosquitoes every day.

Residents can help reduce mosquitoes in their neighborhoods by reporting unmaintained (“green”) pools to the Vector Control District or pick up free mosquito-eating fish for these sources Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., from the district at 410 Esplanade, Lakeport.

Residents with questions or who would like help with a mosquito problem, including reporting a neglected pool or spa, should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit www.lcvcd.org.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov/. Information about mosquito repellents can be found on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Citing fiscal constraints, the county administrative officer is asking the Board of Supervisors this week to consider temporarily reducing public office hours for county offices in and around the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, 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 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson is asking the board to set the alternative office hours.

She notes in her written report for the meeting that the board is “very aware that the County’s already dire financial condition continues to worsen, and thus far, we have been unsuccessful in our pursuit of new revenue streams. The rising Minimum Wage and employee salaries currently estimated at 75% of those of comparable counties, continued slow recovery of our property and transient occupancy tax bases and uncertainty surrounding federal geothermal royalties historically provided to Counties are but a few examples of coming challenges.”

Huchingson’s report continued, “We are also still relatively early in the 2018 wildfire season, and the Ranch, River and Pawnee Fires have ravaged County lands. Since 2015, well over half of our landmass has burned, and nearly 5.5 percent of Lake County’s housing supply, a severe assault to our property tax revenues. Unfortunately, conditions conducive to wildfire remain.”

Noting, “Business as usual is no longer an option,” Huchingson said departments are operating with an average 20-percent staff vacancy rate, low morale and repeated disasters , adding, “the time is now to implement alternative business practices.”

Huchingson is taking to the board a resolution that proposes temporary public hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and excluding holidays, for all county offices in the Lake County Courthouse building in Lakeport, where the board meets, and select surrounding and satellite offices of the county of Lake, for the period of Sept. 11 through March 10.

“As you know, there is precedent for local governments taking such a measure within our County’s borders. The Cities of Clearlake and Lakeport both brought forth Friday closures during tough financial times, and elected to maintain Monday-Thursday public availability in spite of successfully obtaining new revenue streams,” Huchingson wrote in her report.

She said the six-month period will serve as a pilot for the board’s consideration of appropriate hours for county offices moving forward.

“If a permanent change becomes desirable or necessary at some time in the future, your Board would make that change by amending your Office Hours Ordinance,” Huchingson wrote.

Huchingson added, “Because the intention is to allow departments as much focused time as possible to address already extremely heavy workloads, staff requests that your Board not impose additional reporting requirements. Standard departmental performance measures will allow appropriate insight into the effects of these Friday public closures, and my office will seek input from Department Heads before this matter is revisited by your Board in March.”

In other business, at 9:09 a.m. the board will consider continuing a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Pawnee fire incident and at 9:10 a.m. will consider continuing a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Mendocino Complex fire and get a status report on the complex.

The full agenda follows.

CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS

5.1: Consideration of Contract Change Orders 1-7 for the Clearlake Oaks Intertie Control Valve Project SD17-03.

CONSENT AGENDA

6.1: (a) Consideration of advanced salary step appointment of Pamela Nichols to HR Director; (b) consideration of waiver of applicant interview travel policy to enable reimbursement to Pamela Nichols; and (c) consideration of waiver of new employee relocation policy to enable reimbursement to Pamela Nichols, up to $2,000 for eligible moving expenses.

6.2: Approve extended leave of absence for Deputy Assessor-Recorder III Marilyn Higgins.

6.3: Adopt resolution authorizing the assessor to apply for the state supplementation for county assessors' program.

6.4: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises Inc. for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for the amount of $50,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Lake County Wrap Program, foster care program and intensive treatment foster care (itfc) program for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $550,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.6: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the MHSA funded Lake County Family Stabilization Program for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $141,698 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.7: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the MHSA Transitional Age Youth Drop-In Center for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for the amount of $61,200 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.8: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and FIRST 5 Lake Commission for the Mother-Wise Program (Post-Partum Depression Initiative) for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $65,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.9: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Ford Street Project for substance use disorder residential and detoxification services for FY 2018-19, for a contract maximum of $50,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.10: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Neuropsychological Associates of California - A Psychological Services Corp. for psychological services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $30,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.11: (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 the ninth amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Cerner Corp. for Anasazi Software and support services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $50,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.

6.12: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Restpadd Inc. for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient hospitalizations for Fiscal Year 2018-19 in the amount of $150,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.13: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for substance use disorder residential services for FY 2018-19, for a contract maximum of $60,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

6.14: (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 the agreement between the county of Lake and Native American Mental Health Services dba North American Mental Health Services for telepsychiatry services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $30,600 and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.

6.15: (a) Approve the district attorney’s equitable sharing agreement and certification for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 and authorize the Chair to sign; and (b) Authorize Doris Lankford to electronically submit the report.

6.16: Adopt resolution approving a request for county of Lake Health Services to submit a renewal application and certification statement for the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health grant with the State of California, Department of Public Health for Fiscal Year 2018 through 2019, in the amount of $269,937 and authorizing the board chair to sign said certification.

6.17: (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) authorize the Public Services director / assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order to Peterson Tractor Co. in the amount of $151,032.

6.18: 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; (b) authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $18,695 to Pape’ Materials for the purchase of a used forklift; and (c) authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $32,620 to Pape’ Machinery for the replacement of a grader transmission.

6.19: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Kelseyville Unified School District for the assignment of a school resource officer for a base rate of $120,000 from july 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019; and authorize the sheriff to sign.

6.20: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Konocti Unified School District for the assignment of a school resource officer for a base rate of $120,000 from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019; and authorize the sheriff to sign.

6.21: Approve the acceptance of a 1999 Jetcraft patrol boat and 1999 Baker trailer from the Department of Boating and Waterways.

6.22: Approve a grant agreement with the state of California Department of Boating and Waterways in the Amount of $97,727 for the purchase of a new law enforcement patrol boat and trailer; and authorize the sheriff and county administrative officer to sign the contract documents.

6.23: Approve long distance travel for Sheriff Brian L. Martin to attend funeral services for Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett in Utah on Aug. 19, 2018.

6.24: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve escrow account for 5 percentage retainage on the Anderson Springs Sewer Project construction contract for K.J. Woods Construction Inc.

6.25: Approve recommended change to paid emergency leave policy.

TIMED ITEMS

7.2, 9:09 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Pawnee fire incident.

7.3: 9:10 a.m.: (a) Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Mendocino Complex fire; and (b) status report on Mendocino Complex fire, also known as the River and Ranch fires.

7.4, 9:30 a.m.: Continued from July 24 and June 19, hearing, nuisance abatement hearing for Toby Coleman; 3905 Gaddy Lane, Kelseyville CA, APN: 008-028-34.

7.5, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of Community Development Block Grant funded Comprehensive Recovery Funding Implementation Strategy 2018.

UNTIMED ITEMS

8.2: Consideration of a resolution establishing temporary alternative office hours for county offices located in and surrounding the Lake County Courthouse.

8.3: Consideration of (a) Award of Phase 1 of the design/build contract to PACE Engineering of Redding, Calif., for an amount not to exceed $161,000; and (b) agreement between county of Lake and Pace Engineering for replacement of four redwood water tanks in Soda Bay CSA 20.

CLOSED SESSION

9.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Appointment of interim Public Health officer.

9.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): Navarro v. County of Lake, et al.

9.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): LCCOA v. County of Lake, et al.

9.4: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(4): County of Lake v. United States, Department of Interior .

9.: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Tabba aka Ward v. Wright, et al.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Alexander Gene Gard, 23, of Lakeport, Calif., was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, for felony charges of burglary and forgery and misdemeanor charges of possession of stolen property and violation of probation. Photo courtesy of the Lakeport Police Department.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police have arrested a Lakeport man who they say has a history of repeated thefts and drug-related cases.

On Saturday, officers took Alexander Gene Gard, 23, into custody, according to a report from the Lakeport Police Department.

The report said that on Saturday officers received a report of stolen credit/debit cards being used at O’Reilly Auto Parts and Kmart after the card owner was notified of fraudulent activity by his bank. The victim’s wallet had been reported lost or stolen earlier in the morning.

The agency said officers responded to find that the suspect was gone but received a description. Being that the two businesses are near the police station, officers reviewed the station camera footage, which covers the surrounding area, and identified the suspect as Gard.

Officers developed information that Gard may have been at Sutter Lakeside Hospital and at approximately 5:30 p.m. located him on the grounds of that facility, hiding behind an air conditioning unit, the report explained.

Police said Gard was in possession of the victim’s wallet, credit card and identification as well as some medical equipment and supplies that he stole from the hospital.

Gard was arrested for felony charges of burglary and forgery and misdemeanor charges of possession of stolen property and violation of probation and transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked, police said.

The Lakeport Police Department said Gard has an extensive history of theft and drug-related charges – the latter specifically relating to methamphetamine – and this is his third arrest in the past 30 days.

On Aug. 19, Gard was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, in that case methamphetamine, as well as possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and violation of probation, police said.

On July 24, Gard was arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and the destruction or concealment of evidence, police said.

In the last eight months, Gard has been involved as a suspect in nine investigations conducted by the Lakeport Police Department.

Going back to 2014, Gard also has been investigated or arrested by the Lakeport Police Department for these types of charges a total of approximately 13 times, authorities said.

“It is our opinion that Gard has not faced any significant consequences for his theft or drug possession related activities due largely to the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014,” said Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said that, regardless of law changes, the Lakeport Police Department will work hard to remove drugs and thieves from the city’s streets.

He said he’s proud of community members, Neighborhood Watch Groups, business owners and officers working together to eliminate this type of behavior in our city.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sen. Mike McGuire’s critical environmental legislation that cracks down on illegal forest conversions to cannabis or other agricultural operations has passed both houses of the legislature with bipartisan support and is being sent to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.

McGuire said SB 1453 is critically important to protect pristine California forestland from illegal clearing to cannabis conversions, which decimates watersheds and pollutes drinking water supplies and kills wildlife. The bear-like mammal, the fisher, is close to extinction due to the practices of rogue cannabis growers.

Illegal timberland conversion to cannabis violations have jumped more than 200 percent since the passage of the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, or MMRSA, in 2015, rising from 30 in 2015 to 99 in 2017 and over the last 20 years, thousands of acres of California forestland have been illegally converted, McGuire’s office reported.

This sharp increase in Forest Practice Act violations from illegal conversions of timberland for cannabis cultivation operations has restricted the ability of Cal Fire investigators to pursue rogue cannabis grows.

The current statute of limitations makes it extremely difficult for Cal Fire investigators to become aware of a potential violation, investigate it, prepare a report, and then refer the matter to a District Attorney or the Attorney General’s Office so that a civil action can be filed in time.

Sen. McGuire’s SB 1453 extends the statute of limitations for illegal conversions of timberland to agricultural uses from one year to three years, upon the discovery of the illegal clearing which is a critical change that will assist in prosecuting these offenses.

“Many in the industry are doing the right thing and becoming licensed. Illegal conversions are still a massive problem and they pollute our watersheds, threaten drinking water supplies, kill wildlife and usher in near irreversible harm to California’s beloved forests,” McGuire said. “SB 1453 will give Cal Fire investigators and prosecutors the time they need to successfully throw the book at these rogue growers who are destroying our forests and it provides authorities time to address these terrible acts.”

SB 1453 is modeled after previous action by the legislature, which has already created a three-year statute of limitations for other similar violations, such as violations of a Fish and Wildlife streambed alteration permit, which often occur in conjunction with violations of the Forest Practice Act & Rules.

The bill is supported by a broad coalition including California District Attorneys Association, Sierra Club, Save the Redwoods, The Nature Conservancy, and many others. SB 1453 passed in the legislature and is being sent to Gov. Brown, who has until Sept. 30 to sign this year’s legislation.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More firing operations once again raised the acreage total on the Mendocino Complex on Sunday, with the Ranch fire portion surpassing the 400,000-acre mark.

On Sunday night, the complex reached 450,985 acres with containment up to 83 percent, Cal Fire said. That’s a grow of more than 23,000 acres since Saturday night.

The Ranch fire reached 402,065 acres, with containment remaining at 67 percent, Cal Fire said. The River fire has been fully contained for nearly two weeks at 48,920 acres.

Mapping shows that the footprint of the Ranch fire continues to grow toward the northern Lake County border into western Glenn County, several miles southwest of Elk Creek.

Cal Fire, which is managing the eastern zone of the Ranch fire, said firefighters continue to make good progress on the Ranch fire, where increased acreage was due to firing operations in the northeastern areas of the fire.

Firing operations are expected to continue on interior portions of the burned area focusing on reinforcing containment in the northeastern areas of the fire as weather conditions permit, officials said.

Crews continue to build and reinforce containment lines and mop up throughout the north and northeastern portions of the fire area, while firefighters continue with fire suppression repair efforts in the northwestern portions of the fire, Cal Fire said.

The U.S. Forest Service, which holds unified command on the complex with Cal Fire and is managing the Ranch fire’s western zone, said the northern perimeter of the fire is divided between the east and west zones at Happy Camp Ridge.

The agency said the incident command post for the western zone is located in Ukiah, while the incident command post for the eastern zone is at the fairgrounds in Orland. The base camp at Stonyford will continue operating to reduce travel times for crews working the northern portion of the fire.

The Forest Service report said large interior stands of fuel exist between and are expected to produce smoke as they burn off.

On the west side of the fire, crews are conducting suppression repair efforts and mop up. Heavy equipment operators are constructing water bars in an effort to prevent erosion, while firehose is being pulled out of the area as hot spots are extinguished, the Forest Service said.

Resources have been rolled back on the incident. Officials said 3,061 personnel, 171 engines, 73 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 90 hand crews and 35 dozers were assigned as of Sunday evening.

Forest officials said that on Saturday, Lt. General Jeff Buchanan, commander of United States Army North, visited soldiers of the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion based out of Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington. Two hundred and 33 soldiers from the brigade are assigned to the Mendocino Complex.

Lt. General Buchanan received an operational briefing from California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 commanders prior to visiting the line, the Forest Service said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Lt. General Jeff Buchanan, commander of United States Army North, visited soldiers of the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion assigned to the Mendocino Complex in Northern California on Saturday, August 25, 2018. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters on Saturday continued to throttle down the growth of the Mendocino Complex, raising containment a few more percentage points and strengthening lines on the north side of the Ranch fire.

For the 24-hour period ending on Saturday evening, the Mendocino Complex had grown by just 3,200 acres, reaching 427,693 acres, with containment up to percent to 78 percent, according to Cal Fire.

All of that growth was on the Ranch fire, now up to 378,773 acres and 67 percent containment, Cal Fire said. The River fire was fully contained nearly two weeks ago at 48,920 acres.

Fire officials said the efforts to contain the complex have been aided by better weather, which allowed firefighters to make good progress on the active northwestern portion of the fire.

Firing operations also have continued. The U.S. Forest Service, which holds unified command on the complex with Cal Fire, said firing operations are progressing on the Ranch fire’s east side and will continue for the next several days as crews work to contain the fire. Helicopters using aerial ignition devices are helping to burn interior fuels that may pose a threat to containment lines.

In addition, felling teams are taking down hazardous trees to make it safer for firefighters and chipping crews are removing vegetation that was cut to widen containment lines, the Forest Service said.

The Forest Service said fire suppression repair teams are working in burned areas where it is safe to do so.

The teams are using heavy equipment to restore bulldozer lines to as natural conditions as possible, covering them with vegetation and creating water bars — berms made to divert water to prevent erosion.

Officials said those suppression repair teams work closely with resource advisors to help protect sensitive areas.

Improving conditions on the fire on Saturday led authorities to reduce the mandatory evacuation order for the Lake Pillsbury and surrounding area within the Mendocino National Forest and Lake County to an evacuation advisory.

However, officials said all roads and areas of the Mendocino National Forest within the Ranch Fire Forest Closure Order No. 08-18-14 remain closed to the general public. Only landowners will be allowed access to their property with proof of ownership.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

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