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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Following an emotional Tuesday morning hearing, an Upper Lake man convicted of the brutal killing of the mother of his children was sentenced to state prison.

Judge J. David Markham sentenced Willy Tujays Timmons, 41, to 16 years to life in state prison for the June 2017 killing of Vanessa Yvette Niko.

In November, a jury found Timmons guilty of second-degree murder for Niko’s killing. They also convicted him of torture, inflicting injury resulting in a traumatic condition and aggravated mayhem, and special allegations of use of a deadly weapon and personally inflicting bodily injury.

Timmons had a history of domestic violence before the murder, which occurred on June 30, 2017.

Niko, a member of the Habematolel Pomo tribe, has become Lake County’s prime example of a victim of the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women, also known as MMIW, which often is rooted in domestic violence.

She had six children, three of them with Timmons. At the time of the murder, she and Timmons were reportedly staying away from each other.

However, on June 30, 2017, family members said Timmons picked Niko up, along with her youngest child.

He drove her to his grandmother’s residence on Bridge Arbor Road in Upper Lake, where he was living with his grandmother and father, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson.

It was there that a deputy would respond to a report of an assault. Timmons, high on methamphetamine and in a jealous rage, struck Niko on the head with a rock as she held her little daughter in her arms. Niko died shortly after the deputy’s arrival.

Timmons was arrested on the day of the murder and has remained in custody since then, with numerous delays before the case finally went to trial in the fall. He also had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at one point during the proceedings.

While that insanity defense did not stand, defense attorney Tom Feimer stated during the Tuesday sentencing that a doctor who had testified at trial found Timmons to have schizophrenia, and that Timmons gave testimony consistent with that.

However, Abelson replied that Timmons’ “vicious acts” were not so much an issue of mental health as of him being under the influence of methamphetamine.

‘I just want to know why’

Throughout the proceedings, Niko’s cousin Ida Morrison has been present to bear witness on behalf of her family.

It was Morrison who was a driving force in the creation of a mural in downtown Upper Lake, dedicated last year, that portrays Niko.

Over the past four years, she had often been accompanied by Niko’s mother, Coveda Miller. Attending the hearings and trial was an effort that Morrison said on Tuesday had not been easy.

Miller was able to see the conviction in November, but she died in January.

Morrison was once again present on Tuesday morning, one of three family members who gave emotional statements about the impact of Niko’s killing on their lives. Abelson said a beautiful portrait of Miller was shown during the sentencing.

In her statement, Morrison recounted both her joy at the beginning of her younger cousin’s life — recalling her as a beautiful baby — as well as the horrifying ending.

“He took my baby girl’s life in front of her baby girl,” she said, adding that her nephews will forever be changed by the killing. “You have taught them to hate.”

She said Timmons doesn’t have to sit and watch the children become sad over everyday events. “What they want is for their mom Vanessa to be with them.”

Morrison said Timmons should have let Niko go, explaining she was trying to get a better life for herself and her children, and that she had been pursuing education. “You just kept dragging her back down.”

Niko’s oldest daughter, Leannlynn Faber, also gave a victim impact statement, during which she explained having to raise her siblings and reflecting on how her mother was missing out on knowing her grandchildren.

“You have torn my life apart,” Faber told Timmons.

“The reason I want to speak today is because my mother loved you,” she said. “And you did something horrible to her. I just want to know why. And how could you do that in front of my siblings?”

Faber said Timmons had spread lies about her mother. “My mom loved you with everything she had in her and I don’t know why you took a good person away from us,” she said, calling her mother “a beautiful soul.”

“I hope you’re tortured everyday knowing what you did to my mom,” she said. “You have to live with that everyday for the rest of your life.”

Retired teacher speaks in Timmons’ defense

The defense then called retired teacher Kent Wooldridge to the stand, a move that appeared to be meant to help Timmons but resulted in an admonishment from the judge and statements which were not factually correct, including his claims that Timmons was an orphan.

Wooldridge had no part in the trial and was not a witness to anything involving it, Abelson told Lake County News. At one point in the trial he was observed attempting to talk to the jurors and possibly interfere but Abelson said there were no jurors — when questioned generically — that were impacted by his conduct.

Wooldridge said he had known Timmons since he was in junior high school and had been a teacher in the school district.

At the urging of other staff, he had tried to work with Timmons on his truancy issues. Wooldridge, who said he’d had a foster home at that time, said Timmons hadn’t had a fixed address and was living with a cousin.

Wooldridge suggested that, had he been able to get Timmons back in school, they wouldn’t be sitting there today.

He said Timmons had come to his foster home to hang out with another young man who later was murdered by his girlfriend in another jurisdiction.

Regarding that case, Wooldridge said, “There is a giant sized hole in my heart that you could drive a truck through,” he said, adding that Timmons was at that funeral.

“There is plenty of misery to go around here,” he said.

“Growing up in Lake County is tough for kids in the best of circumstances,” Wooldridge said, adding that foster children have a particular challenge.

Feimer asked if Timmons had any adult family figures growing up. Wooldridge said no. While they’d heard at trial about aunts and cousins who did the best they could when he was little, but “there was no paper” that went along with him.

“When he needed help, a lot of times it wasn’t there. Had it been there, it would have been a nice thing. So he was on his own a lot,” said Wooldridge.

Feimer asked about Timmons’ positive qualities. Wooldridge replied, “There was nothing negative about him in sobriety. In sobriety, he was a fine guy.”

Wooldridge also claimed that Timmons has been kept away from other inmates in solitary confinement for almost three years due to death threats he has received.

As the questioning drew to a close, Judge Markham began to admonish Wooldridge for not answering Feimer’s questions and for making unrelated comments.

Markham told Wooldridge that he needed to respond to the questions, that it wasn’t the opportunity for a speech.

When Wooldridge again failed to respond as directed, Markham had the clerk read a question back and said he needed to give a yes or no answer.

When Wooldridge gave a “yes” response and then added in a statement about Timmons being a good guy, Markham lost patience.

“You need to really pay attention to me,” said Markham, telling Wooldridge that he would cut off his testimony. Wooldridge then stepped down from the witness stand.

‘I took her out of this world’

After Wooldridge left the stand, Feimer announced to the court that Timmons wished to apologize.

Wearing a striped orange and white Lake County Jail jumpsuit and accompanied by a deputy, Timmons made his way to the witness stand.

Sitting before the court, Timmons wept as he told Niko’s family he was sorry to everybody for her killing.

“There’s nothing that I could say that would make any difference. I took her out of this world,” he said.

He acknowledged that the impact of her death harmed others, adding that he believed her mother died of a broken heart.

“My babies have got no mom or dad now,” Timmons said.

“I feel like I dwell in hell a lot now, and I deserve it,” he said before stepping down after just a few minutes on the stand.

Judge passes sentence

Feimer had asked for Markham to strike one of the enhancements, which would have reduced the sentence by a year.

Markham declined to do so, and went forward with giving the sentence, noting Timmons’ criminal record and history of domestic violence — he was on probation for two such cases at the time of the murder — as well as the cruelty and callousness of the crime, which was committed in front of Niko’s child.

Markham pointed out that Timmons had acknowledged wrongdoing — but not until after a jury convicted him.

He went through the sentences for each of the charges, explaining that the final sentence was 16 years to life, with Timmons eligible for parole after 16 years.

However, Markham said that process would require parole hearings and the input of victims, adding he didn’t think any reasonable person would find Timmons should be released after 16 years.

Markham went on to say that he was not impressed by Wooldridge. To come into the court and tell the victims that he also had suffered, “The court frankly finds it offensive,” Markham said.

He added that neither he nor Wooldridge knew what Niko’s family had gone through.

It was noted during the sentencing that Timmons would receive credit — of more than five years on some of the counts — for time served toward that overall sentence, but that the overall calculation ultimately would be up to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

If Timmons ever were to be released, Markham said he would face lifetime parole, unless he filed an appeal.

Markham then ordered Timmons to be remanded and delivered to state corrections to start serving his prison sentence.

Abelson said the family was strong throughout the painful process and delays. She said she was pleased the family got some justice for Niko.

“I just wish her mother was here to finally see it,” Abelson 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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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Monday morning fire in Clearlake Oaks burned and RV and a garage, and sent a man to the hospital for minor injuries.

Northshore Fire Chief Mike Ciancio said the fire was reported at 11630 Beryl Way shortly before 8:30 a.m.

In addition to Northshore Fire, Lake County Fire and Cal Fire responded, Ciancio said.

He said firefighters managed to knock down the fire very quickly upon arrival.

Ciancio said the fire involved an RV and an upstairs apartment in a nearby garage. The fire was contained to the property.

There were two people on the property at the time and one man was taken to Adventist Clear Lake Hospital for smoke inhalation. He was later released, Ciancio said.

A fire investigator responded to the scene and arrived shortly before 1 p.m., according to radio traffic.

Ciancio said investigators are called in when a fire’s cause is not apparent or is more difficult to determine.

Based on radio reports, Ciancio also remained on scene until later in the afternoon as the investigation and mop up continued.

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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At left, an image showing the concentration of tau tangles (green), a phenomenon associated with Alzheimers, in the brains of mice without Familial Natural Short Sleep, or FNSS, genes. At right, an image of tau tangles in the brains of mice with FNSS genes. The FNSS genes appear to protect from the accumulation of tau protein (green). Image credits: Fu Lab.

Some people are gifted with genes that pack the benefits of slumber into an efficient time window, keeping them peppy on only four or six hours of sleep a night, according to researchers at UC San Francisco.

In addition, the scientists said, these “elite sleepers” show psychological resilience and resistance to neurodegenerative conditions that may point the way to fending off neurological disease.

“There’s a dogma in the field that everyone needs eight hours of sleep, but our work to date confirms that the amount of sleep people need differs based on genetics,” said neurologist Louis Ptacek, MD, one of the senior authors on the study, which appears in iScience on March 15. “Think of it as analogous to height; there’s no perfect amount of height, each person is different. We’ve shown that the case is similar for sleep.”

For over a decade, Ptacek and co-senior author, Ying-Hui Fu, PhD, both members of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, have been studying people with Familial Natural Short Sleep, or FNSS, the ability to function fully on – and have a preference for – four to six hours of sleep a night.

They’ve shown that it runs in families and, thus far, have identified five genes across the genome that play a role in enabling this efficient sleep. There are still many more FNSS genes to find, the researchers said.

This study tested Fu’s hypothesis that elite sleep can be a shield against neurodegenerative disease. Her ideas contrast somewhat with current thinking that, for many people, lack of sleep can accelerate neurodegeneration.

The difference, Fu said, is that with FNSS, the brain accomplishes its sleep tasks in a shorter time. In other words, less time spent efficiently sleeping may not equate to a lack of sleep.

The team chose to look at mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease because that condition is so prevalent, said Fu. They bred mice that had both short-sleep genes and genes that predisposed them to Alzheimer’s and found that their brains developed much less of the hallmark aggregates associated with dementia.

To confirm their findings, they repeated the experiment using mice with a different short-sleep gene and another dementia gene and saw similar results.

Fu and Ptacek believe that similar investigations of other brain conditions would show the efficient-sleep genes conferring comparable protections. Improving peoples’ sleep could delay progression of disease across a whole spectrum of conditions, they said.

Louis Ptacek, MD, and Ying-Hui Fu, PhD. Image by Steve Babuljak.

There’s a dogma in the field that everyone needs eight hours of sleep, but our work to date confirms that the amount of sleep people need differs based on genetics.

“Sleep problems are common in all diseases of the brain,” she said. “This makes sense because sleep is a complex activity. Many parts of your brain have to work together for you to fall asleep and to wake up. When these parts of the brain are damaged, it makes it harder to sleep or get quality sleep.”

Understanding the biological underpinnings of sleep regulation could identify drugs that will help ward off problems with sleep disorders. In addition, improving sleep in healthy people may sustain wellbeing and improve the quality of time we each have, the researchers said. But pursuing the many genes involved is a long game that they liken to putting together a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle.

“Every mutation we find is another piece,” said Ptacek. “Right now we’re working on the edges and the corners, to get to that place where it’s easier to put the pieces together and where the picture really starts to emerge.“

Despite the long road ahead, there’s already promise in some of the few genes they’ve identified. At least one of them can be targeted with existing drugs that might be repurposed. Their hope is that within the next decade, they’ll have helped facilitate new treatments that allow people with brain disorders to get a better night’s rest.

“This work opens the door to a new understanding of how to delay and possibly prevent a lot of diseases,” said Fu. “Our goal really is to help everyone live healthier and longer through getting optimum sleep.”

Authors: Additional authors on the study include Qing Dong, Nicholas W Gentry, Thomas McMahon, Maya Yamazaki, Lorena Benitez-Rivera, and Tammy Wang, all of UCSF and Li Gan of Weill Cornell Medicine.

Funding: This work was supported by NIH grants NS117929, NS072360 and NS104782 and the William Bowes Neurogenetics Fund.

Robin Marks writes for the University of California San Francisco.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning directed the county’s Human Resources Department to begin the process of advertising for a new county administrative officer.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson announced on Thursday that she is retiring as of April 29, as Lake County News has reported.

On Tuesday, Human Resources Director Pam Samac went before the board to recommend beginning an open recruitment by Friday, leaving it open until the job is filled.

She said the first review of the recruitment would take place in 15 to 20 days, with the first round of applicants to be interviewed during the last week of April or the first week of May.

At the same time, Samac recommended having Human Resources and the County Administrative Office prepare a request for proposals for a headhunting firm, if needed.

Given the time needed to recruit for a county administrative officer, Samac recommended immediately opening a promotional — or internal — recruitment for an interim county administrative officer. That would run for five days, with interviews to take place the week of April 4.

If an internal candidate is appointed, Samac said it would allow them three weeks to work with Huchingson for a “thorough download” and some basic training.

She asked for an estimated budget of $3,500 for advertising and recruitment costs, explaining the county would advertise the position on the normal job boards and some additional sites.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said he liked the idea of seeking a different headhunter but he wanted to make sure to coordinate the open recruitment and the request for proposals, as he was concerned about potentially losing good candidates if the process went on too long.

Supervisor Moke Simon thanked Huchingson for her service and said it was going to be a “monumental task” for the board to find someone to fill her shoes.

Supervisor Tina Scott echoed Simon’s sentiments. “You’ve done an amazing job and it was a pleasure to work with you over the last five years,” she said to Huchingson.

“Time is of the essence here. We need to move fast,” Scott added.

Samac said she had heard from some headhunters who are saying they are too busy to take on more work, so she hoped to be able to find a company to do the work.

Huchingson said staff would agendize an agreement with a recruitment firm for the board to approve.

Sabatier moved to approve the recruitment strategy put forward by Samac, with Simon seconding and the board approving it 5-0.

Later on Tuesday, the county posted the interim county administrative officer job, which is promotional only, on its website.

The position’s salary ranges from $173,184 to $210,492 annually.

For the last several years, Human Resources has been under the direction of Huchingson’s office, raising questions about how much of a hand she ultimately will have on the selection of her successor.

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.


032222 Interim CAO Job — Job Bulletin by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s unemployment rose by nearly a percentage point in January while the state jobless rate held steady and the national rate ticked up slightly.

The Employment Development Department said Lake County’s January jobless rate was 6.7%, up from 5.8% in December. The January 2021 rate was 9.5%.

At the same time, California’s January jobless rate remained at 5.8%, unchanged from December.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nationwide unemployment rate for January was 4%, up from 3.9% in December. The January 2021 rate was 6.4%.

In Lake County, unemployment has typically trended higher in the early months of the year, after the holidays.

The number of Lake County unemployed residents rose from 1,600 in December to 1,890 in January.

Employment sectors showing increases in January in Lake County were led by total farm jobs, a category which was up by 32%. Showing slight increases were professional and business services, 1.5%; leisure and hospitality, 0.9%; local government, 0.3%; and educational and health services, 0.2%.

All other sectors either lost jobs or had no change. Largest percentage losses were reported in state government and wholesale trade, both down by 10%.

For January, Lake County had a statewide employment rank of 41 out of 58 counties.

Marin continued to have the lowest jobless rate, with 3.1%, while the highest unemployment once again was reported in Imperial County, 15.6%.

Lake’s neighboring county jobless rates and ranks were: Colusa, 14.8%, No. 57; Glenn, 6.5%, No. 39; Mendocino, 5.1%, No. 22; Napa, 4.5%, No. 12; Sonoma, 4%, No. 7; and Yolo, 4.9%, No. 21.

Details on the state’s jobless situation

Statewide, the Employment Development Department said employers added 53,600 nonfarm payroll jobs, with payroll jobs totaling 17,194,100.

The number of Californians employed in January was 17,960,200, an increase of 109,200 persons from December’s total of 17,851,000, and up 939,700 from the employment total in January 2021, the report said.

The report said the number of unemployed Californians was 1,104,300 in January, an increase of 9,200 over the month, but down 533,100 in comparison to January 2021.

The Employment Development Department said the agency said updated data shows that California outpaced the rest of the nation in year-over job gains — from January 2021 to January 2022 — with the state posting a 7.4% increase in jobs compared to the national job increase of 4.6% for the same time period.

The benchmarked data shows the state’s job recovery so far is much stronger than first estimated, now regaining 2,261,100 — or approximately 82% — of the 2,758,900 jobs lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state said the revised data also shows the peak unemployment rate during the pandemic was 16.1% in May 2020 instead of the previous estimate of 16% in April 2020.

Eight of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in January with Trade, transportation, and utilities (+26,600) posting the largest gain, primarily within the general freight trucking industry subsector.

Both the trade, transportation and utilities, and professional and business services industry sectors have regained all job losses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also noted that the biggest industry sector job losses were in government (-800); more specifically in local government education.

In related data that figures into the state’s unemployment rate, the Employment Development Department said there were 412,738 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the January 2022 sample week. That compares to 355,749 people in December and 818,589 people in January 2021.

Concurrently, the agency said 54,399 initial claims were processed in the January 2022 sample week, which was a month-over increase of 5,328 claims from December, but a year-over decrease of 3,978 claims from January 2021.

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. — The Lake County Fire Protection District responded to two structure fires on Sunday, one of which is under investigation due to it resulting in a fatality.

Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White said the fatal fire occurred at Leisure Time Mobile Home Park.

He said it looked like a kitchen fire that got out of control.

A 72-year-old man died in the fire, White said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that next of kin had not yet been identified, so the man’s name could not be released.

Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said the Leisure Time fire was dispatched at 10:14 a.m. Sunday in a fifth wheel trailer that was being used as a residence.

“We were on scene fairly quick,” he said.

During the fire’s dispatch, Sapeta said a possible entrapment was reported.

Firefighters arrived on scene and quickly knocked down the fire before finding the victim who had died inside, Sapeta said.

Sapeta said the fire was contained to the RV where it started.

He said the investigation is pending and not expected to be completed until later this week.

On Sunday evening, a fire was reported at a residence in the 3200 block of Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, Sapeta said.

He said the home’s residents had left hot ashes from the barbecue on the porch.

The fire did a fair amount of damage to the porch, and Sapeta said firefighters had to pull down half the ceiling to get to the rafters, where the fire had been burning for awhile.

Overall, Sapeta called it a “pretty amazing save,” with the structure not destroyed.

While earlier in the day there had been some tragedy, firefighters got a big win not just in saving the home in the second incident but helping to protect both the human inhabitants and their pets.

The home’s residents included two beautiful Rottweilers who Sapeta said were probably the friendliest dogs he’s met, and one of those dogs’ three puppies.

“All the puppies were saved with no resuscitation needed,” said Sapeta, noting the healthy Rottweiler-pit bull mix pups look like they’re going to grow up big — they already have paws the size of cupcakes.

Up until this weekend, the district hadn’t seen much fire action recently, Sapeta said. “It’s been quiet for us for almost three weeks.”

On Monday the district also responded as mutual aid to Clearlake Oaks for an RV fire that extended into a structure on Beryl Way, Sapeta 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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Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire’s urgent legislation to divest state public funds from Russia and Russian-state entities following the unprovoked war against Ukraine passed its first Senate Committee on Tuesday with unanimous support.

SB 1328 requires public pensions systems here in California — including the two largest in America, STRS and PERS — to divest from Russian and Belarusian assets and companies.

The bill was approved with a 5-0 vote in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee.

“The state of California has incredible economic power and strength and we must use this clout for good. The people of California will not stand idly by while an autocratic thug attacks the innocent people of Ukraine and attempts to destroy their livelihoods,” McGuire said. “Democrats and Republicans alike are working together on SB 1328. The Golden State stands strong for Ukraine and we’ll do everything in our power to usher in debilitating economic consequences on Russia for this horrific and bloody war.”

As Putin’s war continues, US and European economic sanctions have put increasing pressure on the Russian economy.

California is the world’s fifth largest economy and enhanced action taken by the state can help the people of Ukraine by putting additional financial pressure on the already beaten-up Russian economy.

It’s believed California has Russian investments approaching $2 billion, primarily in its pension funds. At this point there can be no excuse to invest in and support Putin, his oligarchs and the Russian economy.

Russia’s economy, not even in the top 10 of world economies, is one of their big pressure points, and California should use its power to exert influence where it can.

“The free world has a moral obligation to help the people of Ukraine. This creates a legal one as well. By requiring California’s capital to divest from Russian assets, we can play a real role in helping defend democracy internationally,” said McGuire.

SB 1328 also asks private companies based in California to divest their investments in the Russian economy.

In addition, the legislation would block the awarding of state contracts to any company that is conducting business with Russia.

The legislation, with 57 co-authors — and growing — can be found here.

The bill will be heard next in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee in the coming weeks.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control said Monday that it is putting some of its programs temporarily on hold until further notice.

The agency said the decision specifically involves its community cat program and vaccination clinics.

“We'd like to thank the community for their understanding during this time,” Lake County Animal Care and Control said in a Facebook announcement.

Asked about the reasons for the decision, Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Jonathan Armas responded in an email, “I currently cannot comment on the situation placing the specified services on hold. I will provide an update as soon as possible.”

Armas added, “We are currently working to resume services as soon as possible. VIP Pet Care still provides vaccinations on a rotating schedule throughout the county. Spay/Neuter services are still offered at all local vet offices and the SPCA of Lake County has limited services as well.”

SPCA of Lake County provides spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. Visit the organization’s website for more information.

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. — The Board of Supervisors will take up the topic of recruiting a new administrative officer when it meets this week.

The‌ ‌board will meet beginning ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m. ‌Tuesday, March 22, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

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

To‌ ‌participate‌ ‌in‌ ‌real-time, ‌join‌ ‌the‌ ‌Zoom‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌by‌ ‌clicking‌ ‌this‌ ‌link‌. ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌ID‌ ‌is‌ 989 1903 5810, ‌pass code 995795.‌ ‌The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,98919035810#,,,,*995795#.

All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.

To‌ ‌submit‌ ‌a‌ ‌written‌ ‌comment‌ ‌on‌ ‌any‌ ‌agenda‌ ‌item‌ ‌visit‌ ‌https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx‌‌ and‌ ‌click‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌eComment‌ ‌feature‌ ‌linked‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌date. ‌If‌ ‌a‌ ‌comment‌ ‌is‌ ‌submitted‌ ‌after‌ ‌the‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌begins, ‌‌it‌ ‌may‌ ‌not‌ ‌be‌ ‌read‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌but‌ ‌will‌ ‌become‌ ‌a‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌record.

In an untimed item, the board will consider a recruitment strategy for county administrative officers.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson announced on Thursday that she will resign, effective April 29.

Huchingson said she is retiring after six years in the job.

In a new and untimed item, Animal Care and Control will introduce the pet of the week.

The board on Tuesday also will present a proclamation at 9:07 a.m. designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.

At 9:15 a.m., the board will host the presentation of the Employee Service Awards.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Approve the nomination of Supervisor Sabatier to serve on the Economic Mobility Leadership Network.

5.2: Approve revisions to Exhibit A of the Uniform and Clothing Purchase Policy.

5.3: Adopt proclamation designating March 22, 2022, as National Agriculture Day.

5.4: Approve Amendment No.1 to the FY 2021-22 agreement between county of Lake and Ever Well Health Systems for a new contract maximum of $101,700.00 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.5: Approve the extended use of county juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population through June 30, 2022.

5.6: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for March 1 and 11, 2022.

5.7: Approve continuation of resolution authorizing teleconference meetings during a state of emergency that continues to exist.

5.8: Adopt resolution approving the Amendment 2 to Agreement No. 18G30117 between the secretary of state and the county of Lake for voting systems replacement funds.

5.9: Approve Continuation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer for the Cache fire.

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

5.11: Approve continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.

5.12: Approve continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.

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

5.14: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions not available.

5.15: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.

5.16: Approve the purchase of two sport utility vehicles, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford in the amount of $66,598.16.

5.17: Approve a purchase order for the purchase of a bottom dump trailer for county road maintenance in the amount of $64,954.75, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.

5.18: Authorize the chairman to sign the FY21 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant certifications and assurances and financial capability questionnaire.

5.19: Adopt proclamation designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.

TIMED ITEMS

6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating March 22, 2022, as National Agriculture Day.

6.4, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.

6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of Employee Service Awards.

6.6, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing on account and proposed assessment for 11450 E State Hwy 20, Clearlake Oaks.

UNTIMED ITEMS

Pet of the Week.

7.2: Consideration of recruitment strategy for county administrative officer.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Public employee evaluation: Social Services Department Director Crystal Markytan.

8.2: Public employee evaluation: Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez.

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 Behavioral Health Services invites you to join in observing National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, March 21 to 27, by engaging in intentional and active learning about alcohol and substance use in our communities.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines drug addiction as, “A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control.”

Alcohol addiction can likewise cause even severe social, occupational and health consequences.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes alcohol addiction is a, “Chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available.”

Someone's first time using a substance is typically considered voluntary, though social determinants of health can play a role in the overall effects and consequences of substance use and abuse.

If use is continued, the brain can begin to physically change. An individual’s use transitions into the chronic brain disease we dub “addiction.” Addiction is not a choice.

Lake County residents who engage with substances primarily use alcohol, methamphetamine and/or opioids.

The Community Health Dashboard generated by Hope Rising Lake County reported that, as of 2019, approximately 15% of Lake County adults engaged in binge drinking. The number of overdoses due to substance use increased dramatically from 13 deaths in 2018 to 66 deaths in 2021; methamphetamine overdoses were most common.

In 2020, the annual opioid prescription rate was 545 prescriptions per 1,000 residents. In 2019 Lake County had more than triple the number of overdose deaths than the statewide average.

Substance use, when not managed, is fatal. However, help and treatment options are available.

Alcohol use disorder can be treated with naltrexone or acamprosate, both of which reduce cravings.

Effective treatment options are also available for opioid use disorder. These include buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone, all of which help stop the cravings.

This information and more can be found in medication-assisted treatment resources available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Contingency management, or CM, is a treatment approach that relies on operant conditioning, a type of learning that uses incentive-based interventions to modify behavior.

CM uses incentives to promote achievement of treatment goals. When used in conjunction with other treatment therapies or medications like those listed above, it can be highly effective in treating substance and alcohol use disorders.

Regardless of our personal status, whether we have a history of substance use or not, being equipped with knowledge and resources to aid our fellow community members can be lifesaving.

The visual signs of an overdose are unconsciousness or slowed and irregular breathing, pinpoint pupils, limp body, and if the person is of fairer skin tone, blue lips and fingers is another indicator. If you come across someone demonstrating some or all of these indicators, call 911 for medical help.

Additionally, administering Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug that comes in a nasal spray, can restore breathing in a matter of minutes. Just as carrying a first aid kit is intended to reduce potential harms, carrying Naloxone is a preventive tool we can empower ourselves, knowing it could potentially save a life. You can learn more at www.Narcan.com.

Lake County SafeRx offers no-cost Naloxone and training on how and when to use it. Organizations like the National Harm Reduction Coalition assist in locating resources near you and NIDA's webpages also provide valuable drug facts, strategies and direction.

Drug and alcohol addiction can be scary, and deadly, but it doesn't have to be managed alone. As a county, learning together and equipping ourselves with preventive tools and resources is an essential part of our collective healing process.

For more information, contact Lake County Behavioral Health Services at 6302 13th Ave., Lucerne, telephone 707-274-9101, or 7000-B South Center Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-7090.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a budget proposal to establish a $100 million funding opportunity to strengthen partnerships with California Native American tribes to achieve the state’s ambitious climate and conservation goals.

The proposed funding would support tribal initiatives that advance shared climate and biodiversity goals including research, development and implementation of traditional knowledge; workforce training, capacity building and technical support; and tribal nature-based climate conservation programs, among others.

“Too often, California Native American tribal communities are overlooked and suffer many of the worst impacts of climate change,” said Gov. Newsom. “The California way is not to hide from our past, but to embrace it with a commitment to build upon our values of inclusiveness and equity for everyone who calls this state home.”

The proposal has garnered praise from Assemblyman James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s Legislature.

“California has a tremendous amount of work ahead of us to meet our ambitious climate goals,” Ramos said. “Tribes have a connection to the land and have safeguarded the land for centuries. It makes sense to tap into valuable tribal knowledge for land and natural resource restoration. I applaud the governor’s announcement.”

In 2020, Gov. Newsom called for accelerated use of nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis through Executive Order N-82-20.

The order called for a cohesive strategy to improve management of the state’s diverse landscapes to protect climate-vulnerable communities, safeguard biodiversity, achieve carbon neutrality, improve public health and safety, and expand economic opportunity.

Two major initiatives were launched as part of this strategy, a major new conservation goal and a first-ever strategy to expand climate-smart land management.

The state committed to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030, becoming a leader in an international effort referred to as “30X30.”

During public workshops for these initiatives, it was clear that California Native American tribes offered significant solutions and a willingness to partner with the state.

State agencies are finalizing a Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy that will identify the state’s priorities for managing our landscapes to meet California's ambitious climate goals.

“We heard loud and clear in our consultations with more than 70 different California Native American tribes a strong desire from tribal governments to play a leading role in restoration and conservation efforts that benefit Tribal communities and honor their connections to the lands and waters,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Tribes also identified a need for capacity building resources to participate more centrally in California’s conservation and climate efforts. This proposed funding can make that collaboration possible.”

Under the Governor’s budget proposal, the California Natural Resources Agency, or CNRA, would manage the new tribal funding commitment.

Already this year in related programs, CNRA and its entities have awarded funds to tribes for a wide variety of projects including: The Ocean Protection Council through their Prop. 1 grant program funded $1,276,951 to the Wiyot Tribe for the purchase of 48 acres and restoration of their ancestral land that will also strengthen coastal resiliency in the Humboldt coastline.

And $772,602 in youth access grant funds to the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the Wiyot Tribe.

Gov. Newsom acknowledged that California Native peoples have lived interdependently with, and stewarded this environment since time immemorial, and that the state has a role in the violent disruption of that relationship.

“As we have heard over the last few days, removing California Native people and practices from the places they have lived and thrived in since time immemorial has had far-reaching negative impacts, including many of the climate challenges we are currently experiencing,” said Governor's Tribal Advisor Christina Snider. “This proposal, which anticipates a tribally-led and informed process, is a step in the right direction to begin to honor what California Native peoples have been through and respectfully defer to tribal communities as the first people of this place.”

By collaborating with tribes, state officials said they will be able to incorporate solutions driven by the first peoples of this state to build a more resilient, equitable, and thriving future for all Californians.
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Bruno Sabatier. Board of Supervisors photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Bruno Sabatier is running for a second term as District 2 supervisor for the county of Lake.

The Lake County Registrar of Voters confirmed that Sabatier will run for his second term unopposed.

The election will be held on June 7, as part of the statewide primary.

Between 2015 and 2018, Sabatier served as a Clearlake City Council member, helping Clearlake progress on many of its issues.

During his first term, beginning in 2019, he said he has continued those efforts as a member of the Board of Supervisors by utilizing the strategies and successes that he has learned along the way.

He has not only represented District 2, but he said he continues to collaborate in order to provide and support initiatives in other districts as well.

The past four years have not come without its obstacles to overcome. Cannabis, COVID, drought, and a decrease in consequences toward petty crimes have been some of the major obstacles to deal with, he said.

Sabatier said he works to tackle problems head on and provides information to better understand the problem while also providing solutions on how to resolve or break through these obstacles.

For cannabis, Sabatier said he not only provided greater support for expanding the industry’s footprint within the county, but he also drafted resolutions enhancing the environmental review and neighbor notification process before obtaining an early activation.

In 2020, after reviewing the applications being processed and noticing their infringement on traditional and historical ag areas, he drafted the Farmland Protection Zone banning outdoor cannabis from the areas and clarifying future traditional farmland protections.

Following the rules set up for the industry is important to him as well, as he said he has worked with staff to shut down a couple of legal operations in his own district that were not in compliance after receiving complaints from the community.

Due to the drought and the increased number of water trucks, especially related to cannabis farms both legal and illegal, Sabatier drafted a resolution making water haulers accountable for delivering water illegally to any cannabis grows.

He also drafted a resolution requiring that all projects going before the Planning Commission provide a hydrology report considering the cumulative impacts to neighboring properties and that all applicants provide a proposed drought management plan for their projects.

During the onset of COVID-19, many Lake County businesses were forced to close. Sabatier drafted many letters for the board’s approval to send to the Governor’s Office requesting that businesses be released from the closures set in place.

When state contracts, assisting the county with COVID mitigation, were not forthcoming or were being breached, Sabatier said he reached out to the state and advocated for the resources that Lake County needed, eventually receiving what Lake County was promised during the pandemic.

With state criminal law reducing the convictions and consequences for petty crime, Sabatier said it has become apparent to him that code enforcement could provide assistance in cleaning up our communities where law enforcement’s capabilities had been reduced.

He has advocated for increased code enforcement staffing throughout his first term and proposed the Road Map Task Force in February 2021.

The task force was approved by the board and provided a $1 million budget to clean up the Clearlake Oaks area in District 3. Ensuring a safe and clean environment in our communities is paramount to Sabatier’s agenda for a better tomorrow.

Sabatier said he works with other supervisors to enable success. The Road Map Task Force is one example of wanting to see the county succeed in other areas, not just District 2.

With two dedicated law enforcement and two dedicated code enforcement officers, the quality of life in Clearlake Oaks has the potential to increase with efforts being made to entice investors to come and invest in vacant commercial lots and develop more opportunities for jobs and economic growth.

In District 4, he proposed to meet with Supervisor Tina Scott and other department heads to discuss the former juvenile hall facility being transitioned into an emergency homeless shelter. He said the new Elijah House has been critical to the county’s pandemic response with many who were homeless now having transitioned out of the shelter and into their own homes.

While providing support in other districts, Sabatier said his true passion still lies with the city of Clearlake, and he continues to enjoy strong relationships with the current council and city staff.

He is working with county groups such as the Rural Arts Initiative to bring in new murals and art sculptures in the city, and the Bureau of Land Management and Cal Fire to help protect the city from future fires.

Sabatier said he is always looking for ways to compliment the work being done by the city with his own initiatives. Currently, after receiving approval from the board, he is working on a new upgraded concrete skatepark for Austin Park.

So what’s next in the next four years? What are the key items that Sabatier wants to focus on?

When prompted with these questions, Sabatier responds with, “We need to build economic sustainability with the new revenues that we’ve created mixed with a safer and cleaner environment to bring in new investors.”

He wants to continue focusing on the success of the Road Map Task Force in hopes that in two years it will be carbon copied into another area of Lake County.

He plans to focus on food sustainability within the county as most of the agricultural crops are not grown for food purposes.

He wants to focus on the illegal cannabis market and make them accountable for their unfair business practice, evasion of taxes, and their environmental crimes.

If you’ve been following the Board of Supervisors meetings, you will know that Sabatier reads everything that is provided to him. Oftentimes, he will pull consent agenda items just to fix a dollar amount that didn’t match or to ask follow-up questions.

“I have worked hard these past three years to learn as much as I could as quickly as I could by being present and active. When reelected, you can expect the same level of work ethic that I have shown since day one,” he said.

Sabatier has many more ideas and plans for the upcoming years. If you’d like to hear more about them, you can reach him at 707-695-0834 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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