CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Eureka man suffered major injuries in a crash on Friday near Clearlake Oaks.

Terrance M. L. Reeves, 29, suffered lower extremity trauma as a result of the crash, which occurred on Highway 20 half a mile west of Olson Road at 4:10 p.m. Friday, according to a Saturday report from the California Highway Patrol.

Reeves was driving a 2012 Ford Mustang with 35-year-old Eureka resident Jessica Hennings as riding as his passenger, the CHP reported.

The CHP said Reeves was headed westbound on Highway 20 and was traveling through a curve at a reported speed of 45 miles per hour, followed by 37-year-old Brian M. Airehart of Durham, who was driving a 2003 Toyota 4Runner.

Richard D. Cepuch 52, of Hidden Valley Lake, was driving a 2000 Mack dump truck eastbound at a stated speed of 42 miles per hour, slowing for the same curve through which Reeves was traveling, the CHP said.

For reasons still under investigation, the Mustang drifted into the opposing lane and into the path of the dump truck, the report explained.

Cepuch, according to the CHP, attempted to avoid the collision but could not, and the left front of the dump truck struck the left front of the Mustang.

The Mustang came to rest against the north hillside, partially within the westbound traffic lane, while the Mack dump truck came to rest facing a southerly direction, partially within the eastbound traffic lane and on the shoulder, the CHP said. Airehart moved his vehicle to the shoulder west of the collision.

Emergency crews soon arrived on scene and extricated Reeves with special equipment, the CHP said. Hennings was able to get out of the car after the collision, having sustained minor injuries, including a seat belt abrasion.

Paramedics stabilized Reeves before he was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital via REACH air ambulance, the CHP said.

Neither Cepuch nor Airehart were injured, with Cepuch working to contain a diesel spill from a ruptured fuel tank as a result of the collision, the CHP said. Radio reports indicated Lake County Environmental Health responded to assist with handling the 40-gallon spill.

The CHP said the debris from the collision struck Airehart’s vehicle, causing minor scratches to the bumper and a possible chip in the windshield.

All four people involved in the crash were wearing their seat belts, according to the report.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A fire that began burning in Yolo County Saturday morning was reported to be threatening several homes by nightfall.

Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit reported that the Forrest Fire – located off Forrest Avenue and Highway 16 at Guinda, south of Rumsey Canyon – began shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday.

The latest report on the fire, released after 9 p.m., said that it had burned 550 acres and was 15 percent contained. Those numbers were rolled back slightly from higher estimates of containment and acreage Cal Fire issued previously.

Helicopters, air tankers and firefighters on the ground had fought the fire throughout the day, according to radio reports.

More than 400 personnel were assigned to the incident, along with 22 engines, 16 fire crews, six air tankers, five helicopters and 10 bulldozers.

Cal Fire said the fire burned up the Blue Ridge outside the community of Guinda during the afternoon.

By Saturday evening, the winds in the area had shifted and several homes were threatened, the agency reported.

During the course of Saturday four injuries were reported and several commercial vehicles were destroyed, according to Cal Fire.

A cause has so far not been reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

\NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Two large earthquakes were reported off the coast of Northern California on Friday evening.

The quakes measured 5.1 and 5.2 on the Richter Scale, according to the US Geological Survey.

The first quake, the 5.1 magnitude, occurred at 6:51 p.m. 64 miles west of Petrolia and 66 miles west of Ferndale, at just over a mile under the earth’s surface, the agency said.

The second quake, the 5.2, occurred several hours later at 11:04 p.m. It was reported at the earth’s surface, 50 miles west of Petrolia and 52 miles west of Ferndale, according to the US Geological Survey.

Both quakes appeared to have occurred along a portion of the San Andreas Fault, according to survey maps.

By 1 a.m. Saturday, 79 shake reports had been submitted on the first quake and 215 on the second, primarily from North Coast and Bay Area counties.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

It wouldn’t be fair to write about the delicately sweet apricot without indulging in – er, researching – their flavor a bit. I have a bowl of five fully ripe examples at my side, picked fresh at the height of ripeness.
 
It’s an all-too-scarce privilege to access fully ripe apricots, as the season is short and most commercial operations pick them on the green side for better shelf worthiness.
 
While you can hasten the ripening process by placing them in a paper bag and leaving them at room temperature, their flavor and sweetness remains the same as the day of harvest. Only their texture, color and juiciness will improve off tree.
 
An apricot picked ripe is a rare thing of beauty, and I’m especially thankful that local farmers bring them to market ripe from the tree.
 
Apricots are an early summer fruit. Depending on where they’re grown, their season begins anywhere from mid-May to mid-June and generally runs a couple of months. They’re at farmers’ markets now, but may not be for long.
 
My mind rushes to “The Arabian Nights,” a favorite book of childhood, when a gently fragrant apricot is at hand. I think of Persian kings and warm nights in Morocco. This softly velvet, light orange fruit has been a favorite in the Middle East since ancient times.
 
While there is argument as to where the apricot was first cultivated (some say China, others India), its origins are most often associated with Armenia. Its scientific name, Prunus armeniaca, means Armenian plum, and it has been cultivated in that country since ancient, even prehistoric, times.
 
Apricots were introduced to Greece by Alexander the Great, and then to Europe by a Roman general named Lucullus.
 
Speaking of ancient Greece, experts in its mythology believe apricots were the “golden apples of Hesperides,” the fruit that Hercules was ordered to pick in the 11th of his 12 labors.
 
They were popular in ancient Persia (dried ones were valuable commodities on Persian trade routes), and they remain an important fruit in Persia’s modern day counterpart, Iran.
 
Not surprisingly, the main producers of apricots worldwide are all in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions, with one lone exception, Japan.
 
In the U.S., California is the king of apricot production, fully 95 percent of it. Most of modern American production of apricots comes from the seedlings carried to the west coast by Spanish missionaries. (Which, in turn, were from the seeds of trees that were introduced to the New World by the English.)
 
The previously mentioned five apricots at my side (long since eaten) provided me with my entire daily requirement of vitamin A. They’re also high in vitamin C and fiber.
 
Apricots are full of the important antioxidant beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in our bodies, protecting our eyes, hair, skin, gums, and various glands.
 
Right now I’m thinking of warm, spicy apricot chutney that’s flavored with ginger, coriander, and a bit of garlic. It’s a wonderful way to preserve fresh apricots, and a recipe is below. It’s fantastic on grilled chicken or pork, or eaten directly on a cracker, with or without cream cheese. Be sure to try it with goat cheese, too, especially since Lake County is home to an amazing goat dairy.
 
In addition to being delicious, there is a health benefit to consuming apricots in chutney. The cooking process breaks down their cell walls, thus releasing more beta carotene to nourish our bodies.
 
Apricots added to chicken give it an Asian or Middle Eastern feel, depending on the spices and flavors used.
 
Tossing halved apricots on the grill brings out their natural sweetness. Balsamic vinegar (mixed with honey or plain) can be brushed on before grilling to add an interesting layer of flavor. Grilled apricots are a wonderful accompaniment to pork and are delicious when served with vanilla ice cream.
 
A simple, tasty and colorful hors d’oeuvre can be made when halved, pitted apricots are filled with cream cheese and sprinkled with crushed pistachios.
 
If you were overly ambitious in buying fresh apricots and have a large quantity that are getting near the over ripe stage, you can puree them (sans pits) to make a delicious nectar. Add enough water to make a thick juice-like consistency. If apricots are very ripe, it’s unlikely you’ll need to sweeten the puree, but a bit of honey, agave nectar or simple syrup may be added to your liking.
 
What about those apricots I just enjoyed? They were ripe, sweet and oh-so-delicious! I hope you’ll have a chance to enjoy many while the season lasts. Bon appétit!
 
Apricot chutney

5 cups of fresh apricots (about 2 pounds), rinsed, halved and pitted
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Just under 1 cup raisins (about 4 oz.), dark or light
1 tsp grated fresh ginger root
1 cup cider vinegar
1 tsp coriander seeds
3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
Salt to taste
 
Put all the ingredients into a large pan and boil until the apricots are very soft.

Remove the apricots from the pan with a slotted spoon and put them into clean, dry jars.

Boil the remaining liquid until it becomes a thick syrup.

Pour the syrup into the jars, cover them, and allow them to cool before storing.

If not using sterile canning procedure, store the chutney in the fridge.

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters are at work on another wildland fire in the region, this time in Yolo County.

Cal Fire reported that the “Forrest Fire” began late Saturday morning off for Forrest Avenue and Highway 16 in Guinda, south of Rumsey Canyon in neighboring Yolo County.

The incident has grown rapidly in size. At about 5:15 p.m., Cal Fire reported that the fire had scorched 600 acres and was 25 percent contained.

Radio traffic indicated additional helicopters were heading into the area to assist with fighting the fire, with an air tanker being sent from Santa Rosa.

No cause has been given yet, although initial reports indicated multiple vehicles were involved and power lines were down.

Several Lake County residents have reported seeing smoke from the fire in the direction of the Morgan Valley area.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NASA’s most advanced planetary rover is on a precise course for an early August landing beside a Martian mountain to begin two years of unprecedented scientific detective work.

However, getting the Curiosity rover to the surface of Mars will not be easy.

“The Curiosity landing is the hardest NASA mission ever attempted in the history of robotic planetary exploration,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “While the challenge is great, the team’s skill and determination give me high confidence in a successful landing.”

Curiosity is scheduled to land at approximately 10:31 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5 (1:31 a.m. EDT on Aug. 6).

The Mars Science Laboratory mission is a precursor for future human missions to Mars. President Barack Obama has set a challenge to reach the Red Planet in the 2030s.

To achieve the precision needed for landing safely inside Gale Crater, the spacecraft will fly like a wing in the upper atmosphere instead of dropping like a rock.

To land the 1-ton rover, an airbag method used on previous Mars rovers will not work. Mission engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., designed a “sky crane” method for the final several seconds of the flight.

A backpack with retro-rockets controlling descent speed will lower the rover on three nylon cords just before touchdown.

During a critical period lasting only about seven minutes--also known as “the seven minutes of terror” – the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft carrying Curiosity must decelerate from about 13,200 miles per hour (about 5,900 meters per second) to allow the rover to land on the surface at about 1.7 mph (three-fourths of a meter per second).

“Those seven minutes are the most challenging part of this entire mission,” said Pete Theisinger, the mission’s project manager at JPL. “For the landing to succeed, hundreds of events will need to go right, many with split-second timing and all controlled autonomously by the spacecraft. We’ve done all we can think of to succeed. We expect to get Curiosity safely onto the ground, but there is no guarantee. The risks are real.”

During the initial weeks after the actual landing, JPL mission controllers will put the rover through a series of checkouts and activities to characterize its performance on Mars, while gradually ramping up scientific investigations. Curiosity then will begin investigating whether an area with a wet history inside Mars’ Gale Crater ever has offered an environment favorable for microbial life.

“Earlier missions have found that ancient Mars had wet environments,” said Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Program at NASA Headquarters. “Curiosity takes us the next logical step in understanding the potential for life on Mars.”

Curiosity will use tools on a robotic arm to deliver samples from Martian rocks and soils into laboratory instruments inside the rover that can reveal chemical and mineral composition.

A laser instrument will use its beam to induce a spark on a target and read the spark’s spectrum of light to identify chemical elements in the target.

Other instruments on the car-sized rover will examine the surrounding environment from a distance or by direct touch with the arm.

The rover will check for the basic chemical ingredients for life and for evidence about energy available for life. It also will assess factors that could be hazardous for life, such as the radiation environment.

“For its ambitious goals, this mission needs a great landing site and a big payload,” said Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters. “During the descent through the atmosphere, the mission will rely on bold techniques enabling use of a smaller target area and a heavier robot on the ground than were possible for any previous Mars mission. Those techniques also advance us toward human-crew Mars missions, which will need even more precise targeting and heavier landers.

“The chosen landing site is beside a mountain informally called Mount Sharp,” McCuistion added. “The mission’s prime destination lies on the slope of the mountain. Driving there from the landing site may take many months.”

“Be patient about the drive. It will be well worth the wait and we are apt to find some targets of interest on the way,” said John Grotzinger, MSL project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. “When we get to the lower layers in Mount Sharp, we’ll read them like chapters in a book about changing environmental conditions when Mars was wetter than it is today.”

In collaboration with Microsoft Corp., a new outreach game was unveiled Monday to give the public a sense of the challenge and adventure of landing in a precise location on the surface. Called “Mars Rover Landing,” the game is an immersive experience for the Xbox 360 home entertainment console that allows users to take control of their own spacecraft and face the extreme challenges of landing a rover on Mars.

Information about many ways to watch and participate in the Curiosity’s landing and the mission on the surface of Mars is available at: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate .

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – You never know what kind of dog breed you can find at Lake County Animal Care and Control.

This week, alongside mixes of mastiff, Chihuahua and terriers, there are French bulldog and Schipperke mixes looking for loving new homes.

Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.

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

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

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

Schipperke mix

This female Schipperke mix is 7 months old.

She has a medium-length tan coat and has not been altered.

Find her in kennel No. 6, ID No. 33603.

French bulldog-terrier mix

The French bulldog-terrier mix is a male. Shelter staff haven’t given an age estimate.

He has a short white coat and has not yet been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 8, ID No. 33641.

‘Carlos’

“Carlos” is a 7-month-old male dachshund-terrier mix.

He has a short tan coat, floppy ears and big brown eyes, weighs just over 11 pounds and has not yet been altered.

He’s in kennel No. 7, ID No. 33433.

‘Brandon’

“Brandon,” like his kennel mate Carlos, is a 7-month-old male dachshund-terrier mix.

He weighs 9 pounds, has a short tan coat, floppy ears and brown eyes, and has not yet been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 7, ID No. 33432.

‘Cali’

“Cali” is a female Chihuahua mix is 8 years old.

She has a short black and brown coat, and has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 13, ID No. 33343.

‘Taco’

“Taco” is a 3-year-old male Chihuahua mix.

He has a short white coat, and is not yet neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 16, ID No. 33342.

Chihuahua-terrier mix

This female Chihuahua-terrier mix is 4 years old.

She weighs 9 pounds and has a short tan coat.

Find her in kennel No. 18, ID No. 33273.

‘Boda’

“Boda” is 6-month-old female springer spaniel-border collie mix.

She has a short black and white coat, and is not yet spayed.

She is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 33494.

Boxer mix

This female boxer mix is 4 years old.

She has red and white coloring, a docked tale and weighs 50 pounds.

She’s in kennel No. 20, ID No. 33284.

‘Slick’

“Slick” is a 3-year-old male Australian Kelpie mix.

He has a short tricolor coat and weighs just over 42 pounds.

Find him in kennel No. 22, ID No. 33397.

Female dachshund mix

This female dachshund mix is 1 year old.

She has a short black coat, weighs 32 pounds and has not yet been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 24, ID No. 33221.

Male husky mix

This male husky mix is just over 4 years old.

He has a long red and tan coat, gold eyes and erect ears, weighs just over 56 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 30, ID No. 32738.

Pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is 8 months old.

He weighs nearly 39 pounds, and has a short brown and brindle coat.

He’s in kennel No. 31, ID No. 33400.

Male mastiff mix pup

This male mastiff mix pup is 16 weeks old.

He has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 32a, ID No. 33551.

Male mastiff mix pup

This male mastiff mix pup is 16 weeks old.

He has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 32b, ID No. 33552.

Female mastiff mix pup

This female mastiff mix pup is 16 weeks old.

She has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find her in kennel No. 32c, ID No. 33551.

Female mastiff mix pup

This female mastiff mix pup is 16 weeks old.

She has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find her in kennel No. 33b, ID No. 33555.

Female mastiff mix pup

This male mastiff mix pup is 16 weeks old.

He has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 33c, ID No. 33556.

Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

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

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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

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

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A crash near Clearlake Oaks that occurred Friday afternoon along Highway 20 sent one person with major injuries to a regional trauma center.

The wreck, involving a black Ford Mustang and a big rig, occurred shortly after 4 p.m.

The mustang’s driver was reportedly pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated by firefighters, according to reports from the scene.

The highway was shut down until shortly after 5 p.m. as firefighters and paramedics worked at the crash site.

There also was an estimated 40 gallons of diesel spilled that required Lake County Environmental Health to responf, according to radio reports.

REACH 6 air ambulance set down at a landing zone in Clearlake Oaks and flew the Mustang’s driver to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of major injuries, officials reported.

At about 4:45 p.m. a second crash was reported at Highway 20 and Henderson Drive, when a vehicle went off the hill and into a driveway. A Cal Fire medic unit had to be sent from Hidden Valley Lake due to a shortage of ambulance on the Northshore at that point.

Additional details about the crash victims were not immediately available Friday night.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman lost her home to a fire on Friday evening.

The singlewide mobile home, located at 4203 Cedar Ave., was reported on fire at about 6:10 p.m., according to radio reports.

Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta told Lake County News that the structure was fully involved by the time firefighters arrived on the scene minutes after the incident was dispatched.

Initially, there also were concerns that the fire could extend into nearby vegetation, with a full wildland dispatch of Cal Fire engines requested, according to radio reports.

Sapeta also had reported over the radio that there were multiple power lines down, and he requested that Pacific Gas & Electric respond to the scene.

Lake County Fire responded with two engines, a water tender, medic units, a battalion chief and Sapeta, while Cal Fire sent two additional engines.

Sapeta said the fire was contained to the structure, despite some concerns about wind that might have helped it spread.

The structure was a total loss. Sapeta said the fire’s cause is still under investigation.

The woman who lived in the home suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for treatment, he said.

Sapeta said Red Cross was offering the woman housing assistance due to the loss of her home.

About an hour of mop up and overhaul was required after the fire was extinguished. Radio reports indicated firefighters cleared the scene at about 8:30 p.m.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

With all the fanfare about Mars rover Curiosity landing on the Red Planet in August 2012, it’s easy to forget that there’s already a rover on Mars – an older, smaller cousin set to accomplish a feat unprecedented in the history of Solar System exploration.

Mars rover Opportunity is on track to complete the first extraterrestrial marathon.

A marathon is 26.2 miles. When Opportunity landed on Mars in 2004, NASA’s goal was to have the rover travel a meager 600 meters.

However, no one knew what kind of “runner” Opportunity would turn out to be. As of July 2012, Opportunity has traveled almost 22 miles – only 4.2 miles short of a full marathon.

Runner-author Hal Higdon once said, “The marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder.” That goes double for a marathon on another world where every mile promises a new discovery.

Opportunity’s prime mission is to search for signs of ancient water.

Today the Red Planet is a bone-dry desert with a breathtakingly thin atmosphere, conditions deadly to almost every known form of life on Earth.

Billions of years ago, however, things might have been different. Many researchers believe that Mars was warmer, wetter, and friendlier to Martian life. Opportunity’s job is to search for clues to that ancient time.

Just getting to the starting line was epic. “This particular marathoner had to fly about 283 million miles across space before being unceremoniously drop-bounced on the Martian surface,” said Ray Arvidson, Mars Exploration Rover Mission deputy principal investigator.

Like many long-distance runners, Opportunity likes to “take it slow.” On a typical drive day, the rover travels only 50 to 100 meters. This gives the rover time to pause and look for the unknown.

It also allows Opportunity to take plenty of photos along the way. Recently the rover sent home its 100,000th image, a stunning panorama.

Opportunity first uncovered signs of water in deposits near the landing site in Eagle Crater. There were rocks that seemed to have formed in an ancient shallow lake.

Over the next four years, Opportunity scavenged ever larger and deeper craters, finding more evidence of wet periods. Indications were, however, that the ancient lake water might have been too acidic for life.

The metallic marathoner soon set its sights on Endeavour Crater – an enormous pit 14 miles wide and hundreds of meters deep.

Endeavour’s depth would offer a look farther back into the history of Mars, to a time when the water was possibly less acidic.

The marathon route crossing Mars’ Meridiani plain to Endeavor was a daring trek —with no aid stations anywhere.

Raging dust storms reduced the rover’s solar power so much that Opportunity almost entered the “sleep of death”; soft, sandy, wind-blown ripples trapped the rover’s wheels, and there was an injury: A failure in Opportunity’s right front steering actuator made running forward tricky. Ever resourceful, the rover ran part of its race backwards.

“The course took Opportunity over sedimentary bedrock made of magnesium, iron, and calcium sulfate minerals – further indications of water billions of years ago,” says Arvidson.

When the marathoner reached Endeavour Crater in August 2011, things got interesting.

“Endeavor is surrounded by fractured sedimentary rock, and the cracks are filled with gypsum. Gypsum forms when ground water comes up and fills cracks in the ground, depositing hydrated calcium sulfate. This is the best evidence we’ve ever found for liquid water on Mars.”

The gypsum veins were likely formed in conditions more pH-neutral and possibly more hospitable to life: Jackpot!

But this marathoner isn’t done. Opportunity is doing so well that 26.2 miles might not be the finish line after all.

“We have no plans to stop running,” says Arvidson.

Extraterrestrial ultra-marathon anyone?

Dauna Coulter works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Repairs and assessments are continuing on the area burned this month by the Mill Fire, which scorched nearly 30,000 acres in the Colusa County side of the Mendocino National Forest.

The fire began on Saturday, July 7, near Upper Letts Lake and 10 miles west of Stonyford. It was 100-percent contained on Wednesday.

The costs associated with the fire were updated on Friday to $15,737,359, according to forest officials.

Mendocino National Forest, Type III Organization has officially taken command of the Mill Fire and the fire suppression repair process.

Approximately 254 personnel were assigned to the incident on Friday.
 
Mike Vandame, the team leader for the Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER), and his team, have begun surveying the burn area to assess rehabilitation needs.  

“Even after the last flame has been extinguished on the Mill Fire, potential threats to life, property and natural resources may remain,” he said. “These threats come from winter storms that fall on watersheds stripped of their protective vegetation. So, as suppression efforts wind down, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will begin to assess the potential threats.”  

Vandame further indicated that the response team is currently gathering information on structures, roads, other improvements and resources that are within, nearby or downstream of the burned area.  

“Each will be assessed to determine if post-fire conditions pose a significant threat,” Vandame said. “In cases where a threat exists, the team will determine if there is a practical, cost-effective treatment that can reduce the threat. If so, it may be proposed for funding under the appropriate agency’s emergency response program. Each agency has specific guidelines for what treatments qualify for funding.”  

In addition, reducing some threats may require treatments that come under more than one agency’s authority, according to Vandame.  

The team will try its best to keep affected people informed regarding the guidelines that apply to their situation.

The date will be announced for a public information meeting to be held, at the Stonyford Grange, to provide current information and introduce the primary agency contacts.  

Another purpose will be to gather information from potentially affected people to help with the assessment.

“As each day goes by we have completed more of the work associated with the BAER assessments,” said Incident Commander Kipp Morrill. “There is a lot of fire line out there, but we are making progress while ensuring safety.”  

As the days grow hotter, and the humidity decreases, residents will continue to see smoke within the fire lines, officials said. This is normal after a fire, and crews will be vigilant about response.  

Resource management employees will continue to work on repairs and assessing long-term needs for forest health.  

Public meetings will continue to be held at the Stonyford Grange, as deemed necessary by the team. Announcements will be posted as dates are determined.

COBB, Calif. – A nine-hour search and rescue operation coordinated by the Sheriff’s Office last Sunday night resulted in the safe recovery of a 32-year-old Loch Lomond woman.

On Sunday July 15, 2012 at approximately 11:00 pm, sheriff’s deputies responded to an area owned by Calpine Corporation off of Cold Water Creek Road, for a report of an overdue hiker, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.

It was reported that Aiyana Hickman had accessed the Calpine property through the geothermal gate on Bottle Rock Road earlier in the day at about 11:00 a.m. Brooks said she was attempting to hike to an area known as the “Big Falls.”  

Family members said Hickman had called them from her cellular telephone at approximately 5 p.m.  The reception from her phone was very poor, but family members believed something was wrong, according to Brooks’ report. Hickman was told to call back when she was able to get to an area where her phone had better service.  

At approximately 10 p.m., she was able to place another call to family members and said she was lost.  Brooks said she also reported she had lost her shoes and was scraped up from falling and trying to find her way through the dense brush. Family members told deputies that Hickman did not have any food or water and was not prepared to spend the night in the woods.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Central Dispatch Center was able to obtain Hickman’s general location from a 911 call she made. Brooks said deputies responded to the area in an attempt to locate Hickman.  

As the deputies were checking the area, Hickman was able to contact Central Dispatch using her cell phone and advised she could see the lights from the patrol cars. Brooks said deputies attempted to make their way up to Hickman but were unable, due to the dense vegetation. They were able to make voice contact with Hickman by yelling and told her to say at her current location.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) coordinator began calling in resources for a SAR mission. Brooks said man trackers, K-Corps members and four wheel drive teams were summoned to the area.  

Once on scene SAR members were able to contact Hickman by yelling back and forth to each other, Brooks said. A compass bearing was taken and two search teams were established. Both teams were sent from different starting points to locate Hickman.  

On Monday at 4:30 a.m., Hickman was located by one of the search teams and was treated for shock, dehydration and numerous lacerations. Brooks said the search teams provided information that they would not be able to bring Hickman out without additional resources, due to the dense brush and steep terrain.  

At approximately 7:20 a.m., a California Highway Patrol Helicopter from Redding arrived on scene and prepared for the extraction, Brooks said. At approximately 8 a.m. they successfully extracted Hickman to a meadow located off of Coldwater Creek Road. Cal Fire paramedics were already on scene and examined Hickman. It was determined that there was no medical urgency and Hickman was released to waiting family members.

Sheriff Frank Rivero commended all of the SAR volunteers and K-Corps members for their response and successful conclusion of another search and rescue operation.

The sheriff also thanked Cal Fire and CHP for responding to assist with the rescue.