Tuesday, 26 November 2024

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Jail is currently experiencing another COVID-19 outbreak.

Lt. Corey Paulich confirmed to Lake County News that an outbreak was taking place, with 10 inmates and six staff members testing positive for COVID-19.

Paulich said another 63 inmates are in quarantine due to having had close contact with a COVID-19-positive individual.

As of Wednesday, Paulich said the jail's census was at 177. The jail is licensed for a maximum capacity of 286 inmates.

In the spring of 2020, the jail experienced its first COVID-19 outbreak, as Lake County News has reported.

“We had several waves of outbreaks all the way through 2020,” said Paulich.

After that, the jail had individual cases through late July.

That’s when cases started to increase to where the jail is currently, Paulich 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. — Lake County Health Services’ Environmental Health Division has issued guidance on health concerns related to debris and ash from the recent Cache fire.

The city of Clearlake and Lake County Environmental Health are working to secure assistance from state agencies that will ensure proper handling and disposal of debris and ash from the fire.

In the meantime, in order to protect your health and the health of your neighbors and your community, property owners are strongly recommended to not begin cleanup activities at this time.

Debris and ash from residential and other structural fires may contain toxic substances due to the presence of synthetic and hazardous materials.

Many building materials, such as older plumbing pipe and floor and ceiling tiles contain asbestos, and older buildings often contain lead.

Household hazardous waste such as gasoline, cleaning products, pesticides, and other chemicals may have been stored in homes, garages, or sheds that may have burned in the fire. These materials can become concentrated in ash and soil following a fire.

It is important not to expose yourself, your family or others to any of these materials. Exposures can occur by sifting through and/or moving ash and debris, causing ash to become airborne and inhaled or ingested.

A state-sponsored team has surveyed properties in the burn area for asbestos and marked suspected or confirmed asbestos with pink paint. If you come across any of these areas, please do not disturb the material, as it is extremely hazardous.

Lake County is also working with state agencies to safely collect and dispose of household hazardous waste products from burned buildings. This work is scheduled to be completed in the next few days as well.

Because ash and debris generated in the fire may be considered hazardous waste, do not transport ash or debris to landfills and transfer stations at this time.

It is recommended that debris and ash from burned structures remain undisturbed until further instructions are issued.

This recommendation is in place to protect the health of anyone who may come into contact with the waste, including solid waste facility employees, solid waste haulers, and the public.

In addition, the Lake County landfill is not able to accept fire debris until the cleanup process is finalized.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Co. reported that it’s continuing to expand its network of weather stations across its service area, with more stations installed this year in Lake County.

The company said the ever-expanding network of weather stations is positioned to refine the scope of public safety power shutoff events and prepare for increasingly common severe weather events.

More than 200 new weather stations have been installed this year alone, 13 of those are in Lake County, bringing the total number of weather stations in Lake County to 43.

PG&E plans to have a total of 1,300 weather stations in place by the end of 2021. This will equip the company with one weather station for every 20-line miles of electric distribution circuits within Tier 2 and Tier 3 High Fire-Threat Districts, as designated by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Data captured by the weather stations such as temperature, wind speed and humidity levels help PG&E meteorologists evaluate where severe weather may be headed and inform utility operational planning.

During a PSPS, PG&E turns off specific power lines, based on severe weather conditions, for public safety. This is to prevent tree branches and other debris from contacting energized power lines.

“We know that losing power disrupts lives, especially for our customers with medical needs. That is why we are finding ways to reduce the impact of PSPS events without compromising safety. The sole focus of a PSPS is to keep our customers safe,” said Mark Quinlan, vice president of PSPS Operations and Execution.

Since 2018, PG&E has installed more than 1,200 weather stations mostly across high fire-threat areas in Northern and Central California.

The newest weather stations in Lake County are installed in the following locations:

— Gray Road, near Seigler Springs Road;
— Noyes Ranch Road, near Bucksnort Creek;
— Verna Way, near Kono Tayee Point;
— Ridge Road, Highland Creek area;
— Liberty Lane, Hidden Valley;
— Middletown South, east of Highway 29;
— Francis Lane, near Tinilyn Drive, Hidden Valley Lake;
— New Long Valley Road;
— Benmore Valley Road, north of Hopland Rancheria;
— Elk Mountain Road, Mendocino National Forest;
— Daly Place, near Jerusalem Grade, Lower Lake;
— Humboldt 140 (Morgan Valley Road), Lower Lake; and
— PG&E Access Road, Cooper.

“Observations from the weather stations contribute to the improvement of our predictive capabilities for PSPS events. We now have a historical database of these observations, many in remote areas where we have never had this level of detailed data before, and it is now used to help fine-tune our models to better predict when critical fire weather conditions may occur,” said Ashley Helmetag, Senior PG&E Meteorologist. “As the model is improved, the forecast becomes more accurate, allowing meteorologists to limit the scope of PSPS events to the areas where the riskiest fire weather conditions are expected, and to do so with higher confidence.”

These new weather stations across PG&E’s service territory are now sending hyperlocal data not only to PG&E meteorologists, but also to analysts and experts in PG&E’s Wildfire Safety Operations Center, or WSOC.

The WSOC is the hub where PG&E detects, evaluates, monitors, and responds to wildfire threats across its service area.

The information from these stations is also viewable by the public at www.pge.com/weather and is combined with other weather station information and shared with partners through MesoWest.

Weather stations are just one part of PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program. The program also includes the installation of hundreds of sectionalizing devices to break the grid into smaller pieces and hardening hundreds of miles of lines, poles, and other infrastructure to reduce wildfire risk and lessen the effects of PSPS events on customers.

Coupled with PG&E’s growing network of weather data, temporary generation and microgrids, these tools and technologies helped keep the lights on for hundreds of thousands of customers during the PSPS events in 2020, as compared to those events in 2019.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In response to the Cache fire that devastated nearly 60 homes in mid-August, North Coast Opportunities has reopened its wildfire relief fund, both accepting donations and providing financial relief checks to community members most impacted.

Donations and applications can both be accessed at www.ncoinc.org; look for Cache fire on the homepage.

Due to Covid, online applications are strongly encouraged and can be completed directly from the website by following the link, “Apply For Assistance Here.” A paper application may also be downloaded and dropped off at any NCO office.

NCO has been hard at work supporting the needs of Cache fire survivors and by Tuesday, had already delivered 27 checks exceeding a total of $30,000.

These checks were personally delivered directly to community members who suffered a total loss.

“NCO remains committed to supporting the needs of Lake County,” said Robyn Bera, director of community projects. “Our team went into immediate response mode by supporting shelter operations, deploying a CERT team, providing food through our Community Kitchen Project, completing Wildfire Relief Applications with evacuees, and providing case management and support.”

NCO has been a leader in wildfire relief both in immediate needs and long-term recovery since 2015’s Valley fire.

“It’s the community partners that make our work possible,” said Tammy Alakszay, NCO’s emergency preparedness coordinator and Red Cross volunteer partner. “Everyone comes together to help and brainstorm. No single agency or person is perfect, but together we create solutions. Together, we are resilient.”

The amount of Cache fire financial relief available to fire survivors is dependent on donations.

“NCO remains committed to putting community donations directly back into the hands of the most vulnerable fire survivors,” said Bera. “The more donations we earn, the more we can give to support those who need it most right now.”

NCO will be attending the Local Assistance Center at Highlands Senior Center through Friday. Wildfire relief applications and NCO staff will be available to help with applications and answer questions.

For those unable to access NCO’s online portals, or visit NCO at the LAC, please call 707-994-2910. Paper applications and NCO staff are also available at NCO Clearlake office. Please call to make an appointment.

NCO is the Community Action Agency that serves Lake and Mendocino counties, as well as parts of Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte and Solano counties. NCO reacts and adjusts to community needs, including homeless advocacy and response. For more information visit www.ncoinc.org.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Following a brief discussion during its Thursday night meeting, the Clearlake City Council voted unanimously to move ahead with purchasing the property that once housed the city’s water park in order to include it in a large commercial development.

The city has agreed to pay Burbank Housing and Development Corp. of Sonoma County $1 million for 11.28 acres at 6885 and 7110 Old Highway 53.

The property formerly was home to Outrageous Waters water park, which closed in 2005.

In 2017 the land was gifted to Burbank Housing and Development Corp., which develops affordable housing but has no plans for projects in Lake County.

City Manager Alan Flora said the property was part of the original Pearce Field airport property the city acquired from the county of Lake in 1994.

Flora said the city has been working for a couple of years on developing the 28-acre former airport property as a retail center. The council recently approved the sale of two and a half acres for the development of a Fairfield Inn and Suites.

Adding the water park property back to the Pearce Field site would give the city control over a nearly 40-acre development area along Highway 53, which Flora said would allow for the city to conduct more strategic master planning for that site.

A site master plan is underway by the architecture firm Ankrom Moisan, Flora reported.

He said the proposal provided more opportunity for a large, high-quality development.

Based on the level of interest the city has been able to attract for the site, Flora said he’s confident they can develop the entire area.

His written report on the item said “many of the pieces necessary for a successful development are starting to come together.”

Once the property sale closes, Flora said the city would demolish the water park’s remaining infrastructure, which includes the batting cages and racetrack.

That will clear the way for the city to begin construction of the road and utility infrastructure at the site in the spring of 2022, Flora’s written report explained.

There was no public comment before Councilman Russ Cremer moved to approve the purchase, with Councilman David Claffey seconding and the council voting 5-0.

Lake County News asked Flora afterward about how Burbank Housing acquired the property.

Flora said that, as a nonprofit, the organization sometimes gets donations of land or money as a tax-deductible gift from banks. “I believe that is what happened here, they donated the property to Burbank.”

He said Burbank Housing didn’t initially contact the city — he reached out to them.

As for when the site work to remove the water park infrastructure might begin, Flora said, “We have the funds budgeted and have already investigated environmental issues so it should be pretty quick.”

He said Burbank has a lien on the property that needs to be paid off through escrow. He’s hoping the sale will close in less than 30 days.

Flora said the city is doing a request for proposals for demolition so when the sale closes the city can get the work done quickly.

Also on Thursday, the council unanimously ratified an emergency declaration in response to the Cache fire.

The council also approved an application for funding to the state for Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response funding not to exceed $1 million for improvements at the Hope Center, a transitional housing facility. The funds would be used for curb gutter and sidewalks, and an energy microgrid system, among other improvements, Flora said.

The council discussed resolutions to be considered at the 2021 League of California Cities Annual Conference and presented a proclamation declaring Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day.

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. — With the final mandatory evacuation lifted for the Cache fire area lifted on Monday, residents who have been evacuated since last week were able to return home and begin the process of recovery.

Some residents were allowed to begin returning home during a two-hour window on Sunday evening, and then on Monday morning, city officials lifted the remaining evacuation order for the area south of 18th Avenue and east of Highway 53.

At the same time, in his capacity as the city’s director of emergency services, City Manager Alan Flora issued a directive on Monday morning that restricts access for those who aren’t property owners, residents, their agents or a specified group of other individuals to an area that includes the area south of Dam Road to Cache Creek, from 16335 Dam Road to the west and the western border of 16535 Dam Road, which is Cache Creek Mobile Home Estates, and areas on Sixth Avenue and Cache Street up to Dam Road.



The fire, which began on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 18, burned 83 acres, destroyed 56 homes — 46 mobile homes and 10 stick-built homes — and 81 outbuildings, officials reported.

Much of the damage was in the Creekside Mobile Home Park, and while fewer homes were damaged in the nearby Cache Creek Mobile Home Park, its water system was destroyed, officials reported.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said Foods, Etc. donated bottled water so Cache Creek Mobile Home Park residents could still go home and have water to drink, cook and do basic washing.

He also praised Frank Costner, general manager of Konocti County Water District and his crew for working to connect Cache Creek Mobile Home Park’s water system to the district’s. That work was still taking place on Monday night.

City officials had reported last week that Konocti County Water District had been poised to take over the park’s system at the time the fire hit.

Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White said Costner’s support for allowing the police department to co-locate a radio site at one of the district’s water tanks a few years ago directly contributed to police being able to communicate during the Cache fire’s evacuations.

An evacuation shelter run by the Red Cross remains open at the city’s senior and community center, 3245 Bowers Ave.

Sabatier said planning is underway to open a local assistance center for fire survivors, with nonprofits ready to offer assistance.

The Lake Area Rotary Club Association also is once again raising funds for fire relief. Donations can be made online or sent via check to the LARCA Emergency Relief Fund, P.O. Box 2921, Clearlake, CA 95422.

The city of Clearlake also has added a Cache fire resources page to its website.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Lake County due to high temperatures forecast for Saturday.

The agency said the advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Daytime temperatures this week will continue in the mid to high 90s until Saturday, when conditions are forecast to top the century mark.

Temperatures also are expected to be above 100 degrees on Sunday, based on the forecast.

From Monday into the middle of next week, temperatures will top out in the high 90s, dropping into the high 80s across portions of Lake County, forecasters said.

The forecast said nighttime temperature will reach the low 60s this week, before dropping into the mid 50s by next week.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The city of Clearlake, in a joint effort with its local partners and state and federal agencies — including the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services — will open a Local Assistance Center, or LAC, for residents affected by the Cache fire event.

The LAC will be a centralized location where those affected can find assistance and access services.

Cache fire survivors can visit the LAC at the Clearlake Senior/Community Center, located at 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake, on the following days:

— Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 4 to 8 p.m.;
— Thursday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and
— Friday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Disaster survivors whose homes were destroyed, or sustained damage will be able to find information and resources for property debris removal, hazardous materials cleanup, utility assistance programs, driver’s license and car registration/title replacement, local food resources, emotional support programs and much more.

Additionally, a dedicated LAC email address has been established at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or call 707-994-8201, Extension 107, for questions or referrals.
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LUCERNE, Calif. — A three-vehicle crash temporarily blocked a portion of Highway 20 early Tuesday morning.

The head-on wreck occurred just before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday on Highway 20 near Bruner Drive east of Lucerne.

Firefighters at the scene reported over the radio that three vehicles were involved. The crash and the arrival of emergency vehicles blocked both lanes of the highway.

Reports from the scene said two people were uninjured but two air ambulances were requested to respond to transport patients with injuries described as moderate to major.

The helicopters were directed to respond to a landing zone set up at Ceago Vinegarden.

The last of the two helicopters left the county shortly after 2 a.m.

Additional information about the incident was not immediately available early Tuesday.

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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Kim Schott. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Kim Schott is the new program director of E Center’s Lake County Women, Infant and Children, or WIC, Nutrition Program.

A registered dietitian and certified lactation educator, Schott will succeed Helaine Moore, who retired after 30 years working for E Center as the WIC Program director.

Schott began working for E Center in 2018 after graduating summa cum laude from San Diego State University.

During the same time, she completed her dietetic internship through San Diego WIC.

Schott is a United States Navy veteran where she served six years as Petty Officer Second Class aboard the USS Harpers Ferry.

“Kim is the perfect fit for our diverse and ever‐changing community in Lake County,” said Sharon Zoller, E Center Board of Directors chair and Lake County farmer. “Both her private sector background and understanding of the important role nutrition plays in the wellness and health of new mothers and young children, fits with E Center’s Mission of Building Healthy Communities through Education, Employment and Environment awareness.”

In addition to serving in the military, Schott has owned her own business, and helped with the startup and management of other small businesses.

“Kim is excited at the opportunity of building new relationships and strengthening current collaborations,” said E center’s CEO Raj Samra. “We have full trust in Kim’s ability to meet the new federal and state WIC regulations as the community recovers from the pandemic, and lead her team to new heights.”

In her spare time, Schott enjoys working out, boating, camping, home improvement projects, cooking and, most of all, spending quality time with her family.

E Center is a private nonprofit agency with more than four decades of effectiveness in serving the most at‐risk children and families in northern California. E Center's mission is to “Build Healthy Communities through education, employment, and environmental awareness.”
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Planning Commission will meet this week to discuss a property split and a cannabis project.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The agenda is here.

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

The webinar ID is 970 2313 5183, the pass code is 232386.

Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,97023135183#,,,,*232386# or dial in at 669-900-6833.

The meeting also can be viewed on the county of Lake website and on the county’s Facebook page.

At 9:05 a.m., the commission will hold a public hearing to consider a parcel map to divide a 6.57-acre property to create two new parcels, and consideration of a categorical exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act.

The owner, Castlewood Estates LLC, is proposing a two parcel land division at 6763 Collier Ave., APN 031-071-18.

The staff report said the parcel would be divided into two equally-sized parcels, each at 3.26 acres. The first parcel contains an orchard, the second contains a high density dwelling development. There is no new development proposed or contemplated by the developer.

At 9:10 a.m., commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing to consider a major use permit for 12 commercial cannabis licenses sought by BG Property Management LLC for an operation to be located at 9200, 9100 and 8722 Highland Springs Road, Lakeport, APNs 007-006-45, 10 and 43.

The project consists of 346,667 square feet of outdoor cannabis cultivation, 48,000 square feet of indoor (greenhouse) cannabis cultivation, a 10,000 square foot drying building, an A-Type 4 nursery license, a Type 13 self-distribution licenses and consideration of adoption of a mitigated negative declaration.

The staff report said that, according to water use studies of Northern California, cannabis plants use approximately 5.99 gallons of water per day. “It has also been documented through CalCannabis’ Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report that outdoor cannabis uses between 25-35 inches of water per year. Based on these ranges, the project’s Water Use Management Plan included as part of the Property Management Plan estimates that the project’s water demand would be between 4,860,640 to 6,075,801 gallons (best case) and 7,290,961 to 8,506,121 gallons (worst case) with an average estimate of 4,860,640 gallons per year.”

The report said water consumption would vary, with the highest consumption occurring during the summer months — June, July, August and September.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Elizabeth Cook races to victory in the inaugural Soap Box Derby in 2019. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — On Saturday, Sept. 11, the city of Clearlake will hold the second annual Soap Box Derby Race on Dam Road Extension.

City officials said the event will go on despite the recently contained Cache fire.

“I am beyond excited and proud to announce our Second Annual Soap Box Derby,” said City Manager Alan Flora. “This year’s event will honor first responder lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. There will be fun for all ages and levels of derby expertise. Make it a day of fun and watch the final Summer Concert that evening in Austin Park. We look forward to a great summer finale.”

This race will again have three age divisions. “The Littles” division are ages 7-12, “Turbo Teens” division are ages 13-17 and the adult division racers are 18 years and over.

This event will also feature local vendors.

The day will start at 7:30 a.m. with race inspection, the national anthem by Lower Lake High School Show Choir. Races for the “Littles” division will begin at 10 a.m. Winners will receive a trophy, bragging rights and in a nod to the infamous Indianapolis 500 tradition, a ceremonial drink of milk.

The city of Clearlake would also like to thank those who participated in the Soap Box Workshop and made it possible for seven young racers to build their vehicles. A very special thanks to Martin Snyder and Elvis Cook of the Clearlake Police Department for preparing all the vehicle parts and spending their day helping the racers build their vehicles.

There are still spots available for racers, vendors and sponsors.

For more information regarding registration of becoming part of this exciting event, please contact Tina Viramontes at 707-994-.8201 x 131 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Racers work on soap box car building. Courtesy photo.

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