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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – National Recovery Month is an observance held every year in September.

It is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, or CSAT.

The national observance is designed to educate Americans on how addiction treatment and mental health services can be effective tools for people with substance abuse and/or mental disorder(s) to live a healthy and rewarding life.

The national observance is also for celebrating the gains made by people in recovery, just as health improvements are celebrated by those who have health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.

National Recovery Month spotlights reinforcing the positive message that behavioral health is critical to overall health, that prevention is effective, and that treatment is successful. People can and do recover with the right treatment.

There are millions of lives that have been changed through recovery. For those who are suffering from alcohol and/or drug addiction, the message is that there are recovery programs that can help.

Prevention is also crucial and important for relevant groups and organizations to promote alcohol and drug addiction prevention, especially among youth.

Everyone needs to work together to increase awareness and improve understanding about diseases of substance use and mental disorders.

Prevention works and there are effective treatments that can help people recover from alcohol and drug addiction.

Each individual can help and become a supporter to help expand and improve the availability of recovery services that are effective.

During September and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to help raise awareness of the fact that effective recovery services are available.

For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.

Todd Metcalf is the administrator of Lake County Behavioral Health Services.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Literacy Coalition invites individuals, friends, and families who enjoy walking and running to participate in the 29th Vineyard Run for Literacy.

The event, which benefits the Coalition’s efforts promoting literacy throughout Lake County, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 14, with start and finish of the walk and runs at Steele Wines.

Sponsored by the Coalition, the 5K walk/run and 10K run will start at 9 a.m. from the winery located on Thomas Drive at Highway 29.

The coalition plans to give awards to top finishers in the runs, gifts to the first 200 people who register, and raffle prizes to participants.

Registration is available online and via forms available from members of the Coalition and at each of Lake County’s library branches. Early registration fees, through Sept. 30, are $25 per adult (age 19 and over) and $10 per child (ages 7 through 18). There is no fee for children through age 6. After the early registration deadline, the fee per adult increase to $35 and per child to $15.

Online registration at http://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Kelseyville/VineyardRunforLiteracy closes Oct. 11. There is also a minimal processing fee for the online sign-up.

Participants are also encouraged to get sponsors, but it is not required. Each individual who brings $100 in sponsor contributions on race day will participate for free. Sponsor sheets may be downloaded at http://lclcoalition.wixsite.com/lclc. They may also be obtained by calling 707-263-7633.

“We are looking forward to another fantastic Vineyard Run this year,” said Deb Ehrhardt, coalition president. “It takes place, rain or shine, in the beautiful scenic area near the winery. It’s a fun community event in conjunction with Steele Wines’ annual Harvest Festival, and it supports our coalition and its work helping Lake County residents gain reading and writing skills they need.”

“We look forward to this event every year,” adds Chereese Sills, the coalition’s race director. “We typically have wonderful weather, and the atmosphere and scenery can’t be beat. The event is perfect for everyone from the serious runner to the walkers and families enjoying a Sunday outing.”

For additional information about the nonprofit Coalition and the Vineyard Run for Literacy, visit the Coalition’s Web site at http://lclcoalition.wixsite.com/lclc/lake-co-literacy-coalition or call 707-263-7633.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday evening heard from Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s chief administrative officer about the hospital's evacuation and reopening due to the Mendocino Complex.

The hospital was closed for 12 days to the River fire arm of the complex, reopening on Aug. 10, as Lake County News has reported.

“Our team did some really amazing things during that time,” hospital Chief Administrative Officer Dan Peterson said.

Peterson said Sutter Lakeside staff was helped by other facilities in the Sutter Health system, including a sister facility in Santa Rosa that had gone through an evacuation last fall.

He said Sutter Lakeside reopened six days after the mandatory evacuations were lifted, which he added was very quick considering the testing and requirements it had to meet before taking patients again.

On July 28, the hospital evacuated 15 patients to other facilities, Peterson said.

During the following week, Peterson said a team of three to five people was on site at all times, with a number of staffers living on site around the clock.

He said it was especially important to have maintenance staff on site in order to do the kind of required ongoing maintenance that prevented equipment like its multimillion dollar MRI machine from being damaged.

Peterson said he was on site with security guards watching flames come down the ridge. He said he encouraged them to go and take care of their own homes, but they refused to go because they wanted to ensure the hospital was safe.

“It was a very meaningful time for me,” he said.

The hospital staff turned off the air conditioning units and sealed them from the outside, which stopped smoke intrusion and damage, Peterson said.

However, at the same time, the inside of the facility suffered significant temperature damage, with two semi loads of pharmaceuticals needing to be replaced. He said the items that they had to discard because they no longer met accreditation standards actually were donated to a third world mission project so will still be put to use.

Peterson said the hospital then had constant shipments of new supplies arriving, although there were some items they had a hard time acquiring due to existing shortages.

Over a four-day period, Peterson said the hospital was completely restocked and thoroughly cleaned, and all electrical equipment was retested, thanks to a team of 200 people.

Councilman Kenny Parlet asked Peterson about the cost of restocking and cleaning the hospital.

Peterson said they are still figuring that out for the purpose of insurance, adding they also paid people through the closure. “It's several million dollars all told. I don't have the final number yet.”

Mayor Mireya Turner said it was a good reminder that there is an incredibly dedicated team at Sutter Lakeside Hospital.

Council awards bid for Lakeshore Boulevard repair project

In other business on Tuesday evening, the council awarded to Granite Construction the bid for the city’s final emergency repair project on Lakeshore Boulevard.

Public Works Director Doug Grider said Granite was the low bidder at $239,556.

His written report said the project is a result of storm damage that occurred during the flooding in January and February of 2017.

“The project area is from 100 feet south of Sayre Street to 300 feet north of Jones Street. Work consists of replacing damaged pavement sections, replacing drainage inlets and culverts and minor sidewalk repair. This project will repair the shoulder area of Lakeshore Boulevard that has been barricaded off since the storms,” Grider wrote.

His report said the majority of the funding is from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program, which reimburses 88.53 percent of the construction costs. The city is required to contribute 11.47 percent of the total cost for the project.

“We have to get it done before the lake comes up,” Grider told the council.

Parlet said he was concerned that the project appeared to have been bid 70 percent higher than the city engineer’s estimate of $143,732.50, adding it felt like the city was being taken advantage of.

“This is the new norm for what construction's going to cost us now,” Grider replied.

He explained that, during the recession, companies were working at cost just to keep going. Now with a number of factors, including an improving economy, and disasters such as floods and fires, “now you’re looking at a very small contractor pool.”

Many small contractors dropped out of the business. “This is something that works in a cycle. This is not the first time I've seen this happen,” he said.

Grider said he doesn’t expect prices will come back down in the near future, explaining that they could see a three- to four-year cycle of rising prices until more smaller contractors come back into the market.

During the discussion, Grider noted that the city engineer’s estimate was done two years ago, and that it had taken that long to get through the Federal Highway Administration’s program.

Police chief gives after action report on fireworks

Lakeport Fire Chief Brad Rasmussen presented the council with the after action report on his agency’s operations relating to fireworks on July 4, which the council voted to receive and file.

He said there were no major issues in the downtown during the Independence Day festivities, with one lost child and one arrest for public intoxication.

While it looked like police received fewer calls about illegal fireworks, Rasmussen said that doesn’t mean there were fewer issues, as many times people don’t call them in.

He said there were a lot of illegal fireworks being shot off around town, and especially in the Safeway shopping center on 11th Street.

While officers were engaged in a drunk driving vehicle stop, they wanted a truck shooting illegal fireworks off over homes on 11th Street, Rasmussen said.

“They didn't care there were police cars there, they just shot them right out of the truck,” he said.

Turner asked how easy it is for police officers to tell the difference between illegal and safe and sane fireworks.

Rasmussen said it’s very easy, noting that illegal fireworks shoot high into the air and have flaming material, while safe and sane fireworks have the state fire marshal seal.

He said that, depending on the amount and type of explosive content, possession of them can lead to felony violations. Getting illegal fireworks, he added, is very easy.

Parlet asked about a public information campaign. Rasmussen said they had done more media outreach this year than any other year.

Also on Tuesday, staff and council members noted that they thought the National Night Out event the previous evening in Library Park was a great success, with Public Works staff having worked hard to have new playground equipment in place.

Rasmussen said he believed it was the best National Night Out in the six years the city has hosted the event, adding he was still getting messages from people in the community who really appreciated it.

He said having it in Library Park was one of the factors that made for its success, suggesting that the city should think of holding it there again next year.

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.

091818 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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NORTH COAST, Calif. – State Sen. Mike McGuire’s legislation that cuts through red tape and expedites quagga mussel inspection programs at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma has been signed by the governor.

This new law will provide public agencies, like Sonoma Water, the authority to obtain funding from the state of California to implement inspection programs for invasive mussel species at local lakes controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

The reason McGuire advanced this legislation with Assemblymembers Levine and Wood: The US Army Corps of Engineers never spent $600,000 in state grant funds that would have created a robust inspection program at both Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino. The funds were awarded four years ago.

Sen. McGuire’s SB 790 will now allow a partner agency – and not necessarily the Army Corps – to apply directly for and obtain equivalent funding in order to implement a full-time mussel prevention program at each of the reservoirs.

The bill will ensure that entities who play a critical role in co-managing reservoirs – and partner with the Army Corps of Engineers – can qualify for funding associated with mandatory mussel inspection programs, installing decontamination stations and educational initiatives preventing the spread of invasive mussels.

Prior to this legislation being signed, the Army Corps of Engineers, as the lead manager for both reservoirs, was the only agency that could apply for state grant funds.

Quagga and zebra mussels are some of the most invasive species on the planet and can lay one million eggs every year causing irreparable harm to critical water management infrastructure.

Quagga and zebra mussels have now taken hold in some of California’s most important freshwater lakes and they are heading to some of the largest lakes on the North Coast – Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino. These two lakes are managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

“We need permanent protection of our lakes from these invasive little buggers. Stakes couldn’t be higher and this new law will expedite protective measures that will stop the spread of mussels into these heavily visited reservoirs and their water conveyance systems,” McGuire said. “SB 790 will now allow partner agencies – such as Sonoma Water – to receive funding to launch a permanent mussel inspection and prevention program in partnership with the Army Corps.”

In June, Fish and Wildlife personnel avoided a potential massive crisis when a boat with invasive mussels was intercepted at Lake Mendocino utilizing trained mussel-sniffing dogs.

“Sonoma Water can now apply for critical mussel prevention dollars to bolster our prevention efforts and keep our waterways mussel-free,” said Sonoma Water Board of Directors Chairman James Gore. “We appreciate the support of Senator McGuire and our local representatives who worked tirelessly to develop and pass SB 790. Gov. Brown’s signature sends a strong message that protecting our water resources from invasive species remains a top statewide priority.”

SB 790 received overwhelming bipartisan support passing both the Senate and Assembly. The bill is co-authored by Assemblymembers Marc Levine and Jim Wood and Senator Bill Monning.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, reported that August sales of single family residences resumed a pattern seen throughout the majority of 2018, with median sales prices on the increase and the number of sales on the decrease.

As of the end of August 2017 the median price was $235,000 with 621 sales compared to a median of $267,950 and 584 sales through the end of August 2018.

The August 2018 median sales price was $262,500, up 5 percent over the July 2018 median and up 9.8 percent over the August 2017 median.

There were 88 sales of single family residences in August 2018 which was up 17.3 percent over July 2018 and down 7.4 percent from August 2017. July 2018 sales were affected by the evacuations as closings were delayed by business closures.

“The pattern that Lake County is seeing is similar to what is being experienced statewide,” commented Melissa Chapman, LCAOR’s 2018 president. “Inventory levels have been growing in Lake County since December of 2017 when there were 415 active listings. The number of active listings as of the end of August was 601.”

Conventional loans accounted for 48.9 percent of the sales, with FHA loans being used in 12.5 percent of the transactions and VA loans being utilized in 6.8 percent of the deals. Cash financing was used in 18.2 percent of the deals.

On a statewide level the California Association of Realtors reported that existing, single-family home sales totaled 399,600 in August on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 1.8 percent from July and down 6.6 percent from August 2017.

August’s median home price for the state was $596,410, up 0.8 percent from July and up 5.5 percent from July 2017.

The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 4.55 percent in August, up from 4.53 percent in July and up from 3.88 percent in August 2017, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate edged higher in August to an average of 3.87 percent up from 3.84 percent in July and up from 3.15 percent in August 2017.


LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

August 2018
Median price: $262,500
Units Sold: 88
Median days to sell: 40

July 2018
Median price: $249,900
Units Sold: 75
Median days to sell: 45

August 2017
Median price: $239,000
Units Sold: 95
Median days to sell: 24
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Authorities are seeking information about a late August assault, with a reward being offered to those who help identify the assailants.

Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that at 1 a.m. Aug. 26 sheriff’s deputies responded to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for an assault report.

At the hospital they contacted the victim, who reported he had been assaulted at his residence located in the area of Waldo Lane in Lakeport, Paulich said.

Paulich said the victim reported that two males entered his residence at approximately 10 p.m. Aug. 25 and assaulted him.

One of the suspects brandished a firearm at the victim. Paulich said the suspects took cash from the victim and left the residence.

He said the suspects were described as one dark-skinned Hispanic male and one light-skinned Hispanic male, who were unknown to the victim.

There is a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for this crime, Paulich said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service in San Francisco in effect for Lake County through Thursday evening, Cal Fire said it has fire personnel and equipment at the ready.

The National Weather Service said a red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly because of a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures that can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

The red flag warning for Lake and several of its neighboring counties went into effect late Wednesday night and, overnight, there were no reports of wildland fire incidents in Lake County, based on radio reports.

The warning is set to remain in place until 7 p.m. Thursday.

Northerly winds are forecast to increase through Thursday afternoon, peaking early Thursday morning at about 25 miles per hour. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s.

In response to the red flag warning, Cal Fire reported that it has prepositioned a strike team of Cal Fire engines from outside the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and all hand crews and bulldozers will be staffed 24 hours a day.

Cal Fire Unit Chief Shana Jones asked that community members not use outdoor power equipment until the red flag event has ended and, even then, she urged they be used as early in the day as possible to avoid the increased burning conditions during the heat of the day.

Officials said approximately 11 percent of the fires in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit are caused by individuals using equipment in and around dry vegetation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert on Oct. 3.

The Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time and the Emergency Alert System, or EAS, portion follows at 11:20 a.m.

The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.

Oct. 3 was the previously scheduled backup date for the test, which was originally set up for this Thursday, Sept. 20. A backup date is always planned in case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date. FEMA and the nation’s emergency management community remain committed to the life-saving activities occurring through parts of North Carolina and South Carolina.

This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test.

The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in September 2011, 2016 and 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.

The EAS test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and is made available to EAS participants including radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.

The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar.

The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”

The WEA test message will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. It allows customers whose wireless provider participates in WEA and who own a WEA compatible wireless phone to receive geo-targeted alerts of imminent threats to safety in their area through unique tones and vibration. The national WEA test will use the same special tone and vibration.

The WEA test will be sent through IPAWS, as part of the nation’s modern alert and warning infrastructure that automatically authenticates alerts. Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the message once.

Significant coordination has been conducted with EAS Participants, wireless providers, and emergency managers in preparation for this EAS-WEA national test.

The test is intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster.

Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is also a way to assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure required for the distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.

Receiving preparedness tips and timely information about weather conditions or other emergency events can make all the difference in knowing when to take action to be safe.

FEMA and other partners are working to ensure alerts and warnings are received quickly through several different technologies, no matter whether an individual is at home, at school, at work, or out in the community.

The FEMA App, which can be downloaded on both Android and Apple devices, is one way to ensure receiving both preparedness tips and weather alerts of your choice. Download the FEMA App today at https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app.

More information on the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts is available at www.ready.gov/alerts.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Employment Development Department announced that workers, business owners and self-employed individuals who lost their jobs or had their work hours substantially reduced as a result of the Carr fire in Shasta County or the Mendocino Complex fire in Lake County now have until Oct. 12 to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.

The previous deadline to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or DUA, benefits was Sept. 10 for the Carr fire and Sept. 21 for the Mendocino Complex fire.

President Trump’s amended federal disaster declarations on Aug. 4 and Aug. 17 provide DUA benefits for people who were affected by the fires in Shasta and Lake counties.

DUA provides temporary unemployment benefits to people whose jobs or work hour losses are a direct result of a disaster and who do not qualify for regular state unemployment insurance benefits, such as business owners or self-employed individuals.

Affected individuals are encouraged to apply for DUA through the EDD, which will first check to see if applicants can qualify for state unemployment benefits, and if not, process the claim for federal disaster unemployment benefits.

DUA applies to losses beginning the week of July 29.

Individuals can receive up to $450 a week for a maximum of 27 weeks. These unemployment insurance benefits are offered to victims of a disaster and available to individuals who meet any of the following criteria:

– Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment, in the disaster area.
– Cannot reach work because of the disaster or can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
– Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
– Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
– Became the head of their households because of a death caused by the disaster.
– Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and remain unemployed as a direct result of the disasters.

To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed.

Required documentation includes a Social Security number and a copy of the most recent federal income tax form or check stubs, or documentation to support that the individuals were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. Documentation for the self-employed can be obtained from banks or government entities, or affidavits from individuals having knowledge of their business.

The fastest and easiest way for new claimants to apply for DUA is to use EDD’s UI Online application, which is available in both English and Spanish.

Claimants can also apply for DUA by phone between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, Monday through Friday:

English: 1-800-300-5616
Spanish: 1-800-326-8937
Chinese (Cantonese): 1-800-547-3506
Chinese (Mandarin): 1-866-303-0706
Vietnamese: 1-800-547-2058
TTY: 1-800-815-9387

EDD’s Disaster-Related Services Web page includes more information for individuals and businesses impacted by disasters, including tax filing extensions for affected employers. EDD also encourages individuals to visit the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services wildfire recovery Web site for information on Local Assistance Centers where individuals, families and businesses can access disaster assistance programs and services.
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North Coast Opportunities staff at the distribution center in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – North Coast Opportunities has established distribution centers in Lake and Mendocino counties to provide sustenance to those who were impacted by the Mendocino Complex fire.

Since August, NCO’s Lake County Distribution Center has distributed goods to more than 400 families by providing a variety of items, such as food, cleaning kits, clothing, diapers, wipes and masks. Available items change daily.

“One of the large issues facing Mendocino Complex fire survivors is that this fire has brought on its own set of circumstances. Thousands of families were evacuated for an extended period resulting in financial distress,” said NCO Executive Director Patty Bruder. “These distribution centers are intended to help those impacted by providing replacement items quickly.”

The Lake County distribution center is located on 785 Bevins St. in Lakeport and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. After-hour appointments are available by contacting Tammy Alakszay at 707-972-0519.

The Mendocino County Distribution Center is open at 8465 East Road in Redwood Valley. The center is open daily, please call Danilla Sands for hours at 707-621-8817.

NCO disaster case managers are also available to provide information, resources, and support. Contact a Lake County disaster case manager at 707-994-2910 or a Mendocino County disaster case manager at 707-621-8817.

NCO’s 2018 Wildfire Relief Fund continues to support survivors by assisting those facing financial hardship by providing monetary aid. The application deadline was Sept. 14.

As of Friday, Sept. 14, 57 fire survivors suffering a total home loss received a $1,000 check whereas 22 fire survivors suffering a partial home loss received a $500 check.

NCO received over 1,000 applications for fire relief. NCO’s Disaster Response Team will continue prioritizing total and partial loss applications and if funds remain, NCO will aid those who suffered evacuation losses.

NCO serves as a critical link for fire survivors and was recognized as Nonprofit of the Year in 2018 by State Sen. Mike McGuire after their work in previous fire relief efforts.

NCO is now in its fifth year of responding to fires and remains devoted to supporting Lake and Mendocino counties rebuild. NCO advocates on the behalf of low-income and disadvantaged people by developing and providing services that strengthen our communities, one person at a time.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After burning for more than a month and a half, California’s largest wildland fire is finally fully contained.

U.S. Forest Service officials said Wednesday that the Mendocino Complex was 100-percent contained at 459,123 acres.

The complex, made up of the Ranch and River fires, began on July 27 in Mendocino County before moving east into Lake County, and later Colusa and Glenn counties.

The River fire was fully contained Aug. 14 at 48,920 acres, but it took until Wednesday to finally contain the Ranch fire portion of the complex, which has burned 410,203 acres.

The complex claimed the life on Aug. 13 of Draper City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Burchett of Utah, who was killed while working the Ranch fire, and injured four other firefighters.

Altogether the complex has destroyed 157 homes and 123 other structures, and damaged 13 residences and 25 other buildings.

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced earlier this month that, so far, these fires have resulted in more than $56 million in insured losses.

The Forest Service said 464 personnel, seven engines, nine hand crews, one helicopter and 45 dozers remain assigned to the incident.

Throughout the remainder of this week, the Forest Service said those crews will continue to monitor fire activity and repair firelines on the Ranch fire.

There are 22 miles of fireline to repair, and officials said the goal is to reduce erosion and other impacts from suppression activities.

The Forest Service said they’re doing “everything possible to reasonably reduce risks to the public” and reopen areas but there is still a lot of restoration work to do.

As such, the Ranch fire area in the forest remains closed due to hazards including burned standing trees or snags, exposed rebar stakes, logs and rocks that may become loose, and burned-out stump holes. Forest officials said the repair work has to be done before areas can be reopened to the public.

The closure area applies to all public use, including hunting, the use of firearms and off-highway vehicles. The northern half of the forest is open for outdoor activities, officials said.

Forest visitors are instructed to exercise extreme caution near the fire closure since heavy equipment and firefighting vehicles are utilizing area roads. Visitors can contact the ranger station nearest their destination for current information.

Additionally, officials said that, with the current warmer and drier weather, more smoke from well within the perimeter of the fire may still be visible at times.

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 Clearlake City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss several appeals of abatement orders and administrative citations, and also will consider a committee appointment.

The council will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

On the agenda are several public hearings. Two are for abatement appeal orders for 3215 12th St. and 15582 21st Ave., with two more for administration citation appeals for 15800 20th Ave. and 3351 10th St.

Under business, the council will consider appointing one of its members to a hazard mitigation planning committee.

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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