MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Forest officials have elevated the fire danger level on the Mendocino National Forest to “very high.”
This danger level means that fires will start easily, spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity.
To maximize the effectiveness of initial response, forest officials said they strategize how they preposition resources in anticipation of shifts in weather and fuel conditions across California.
With the forecast showing a chance of thunderstorms this week, Mendocino National Forest fire officials are ordering additional engines and crews to be available locally in case new fires start.
“Our primary wildfire response strategy for 2020 is aggressive initial attack and rapid containment to minimize the number of large wildfires. The most important thing people can do to help during the 2020 fire year is to prevent wildfires,” said Fire Management Officer Curtis Coots.
Fewer human-caused fires will help protect communities and also preserve firefighting resources.
Remember that fire restrictions are in effect across the forest. Campfires are allowed in developed campgrounds and wilderness only.
Please check here for complete details on campfire restrictions.
This male domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 138, ID No. 13701. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair cat
This male domestic short hair cat has a brown tabby coat.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 138, ID No. 13701.
This male brown tabby kitten is in kennel No. 147A, ID No. 13779. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Brown tabby kitten
This male brown tabby kitten has a medium-length coat and gold eyes.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 147A, ID No. 13779.
This female kitten is in kennel No. 147B, ID No. 13780. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Tortie kitten
This female kitten has a medium-length tortie coat and gold eyes.
She has been spayed. She is in kennel No. 147B, ID No. 13780.
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.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendocino County Public Health said that it has seen a rise in COVID-19 outbreaks over the last few weeks, with the agency now working with four local businesses to contain the spread and conduct investigations.
As of Saturday, Mendocino County had 194 cases of COVID-19, 11 of whom are currently hospitalized, including one who was transferred to Napa County for a higher level of care.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, two cases of COVID-19 in a workplace constitute an outbreak.
Mendocino County Public Health reported that it is working closely with all known locations who have COVID-19 positive employees to contain the spread, including giving orders to isolate cases, and quarantine close contacts – defined as being closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes regardless of facial covering use – for 14 days from the last contact with a known case.
Officials said all locations have been cooperative in containment and investigation efforts.
Outbreaks have been reported at the following four locations.
Sherwood Oaks Health Center, Fort Bragg
Sherwood Oaks Health Center has had seven residents test positive for COVID-19, two of whom have been hospitalized and one of whom has died. Five employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
Ukiah Natural Foods Co-Op
Ukiah Natural Foods Co-Op has had two employees test positive for COVID-19. Further testing of co-op employees is being facilitated by Public Health.
“We are following the guidance as recommended by the Public Health Officer, Dr. Doohan, and are shutting down while working on the case investigation and contact tracing by Public Health,” said Co-Op Manager Lori Rosenberg. “Our impacted staff are quarantined, and we have hired a professional deep cleaning service to clean the entire store. We are taking staff temperatures, and ensuring enhanced efforts for social distancing and disinfecting all surfaces. Our concern at this time is for the health of staff, shoppers and the community.”
The Fort Bragg Center for Laser & Cosmetic Dentistry
The Fort Bragg Center for Laser & Cosmetic Dentistry has had one employee test positive for COVID 19.
“The employee has been isolating since July 9th and no other employees or patients have reported experiencing any symptoms,” as stated by Dr. Alan Limbird.
Dr. Limbird is working closely with public health to ensure a safe reopening for employees and patients. Mendocino County Public Health is providing outbreak testing for any patients who may have been exposed between June 22 and July 13.
Ardzrooni Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Ardzrooni Vineyard has had four employees test positive for COVID-19. Isolation and quarantine housing has been arranged for those affected by this outbreak. Outbreak testing will be offered early next week.
Indication of uncontrolled community spread, which has already been seen in Sonoma and Marin counties, includes outbreaks in skilled nursing facilities and grocery stores, officials said.
The COVID-19 surge has now hit Mendocino County, and will likely worsen until Labor Day, given state modeling data, according to Mendocino County Public Health.
“We urge you, follow the Health Officer orders, and remember to wear your mask,” said Health Officer Dr. Noemi Doohan. “They have been created to save lives.”
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While the pandemic continues, the latest state unemployment report shows that jobless rates are dropping in Lake County and across California as a whole.
The Employment Development Department reported that Lake County’s June unemployment rate was 14.2 percent, down from a final revised rate of 15.5 percent for May and 16.7 percent in April.
California’s unemployment rate improved to 14.9 percent in June – down from 16.4 percent in April and May – as the state’s employers added a record 558,200 jobs, according to the report.
These improvements follow the previous record gain of 134,200 jobs in May and record losses in the months preceding that, in a data series that dates back to 1990.
California has now regained more than a quarter – or 26.4 percent – of the 2,625,500 nonfarm jobs lost during March and April as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Employment Development Department said.
And, despite the fact that California’s rate is going down, the Employment Development Department noted that it is still far higher than the 12.3 percent it was during the height of the Great Recession in March, October and November 2010.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the nation’s unemployment rate for June was 11.1 percent, down from 13.3 percent in May and 14.7 percent in April.
In June, Lake County had a civilian labor force totaling 25,800 individuals, with 3,660 individuals unemployed, compared to a labor force of 25,480 and 3,950 unemployed in May.
Total nonfarm jobs in Lake County were up in June by 3.4 percent over May but down 20.7 percent compared to the previous June, while farm jobs dropped -3.4 percent from May and 32.9 percent in a year-over comparison.
Total nonfarm subcategories that showed job growth over May were professional and business services, 25 percent; information, 20 percent; leisure and hospitality, 19.7 percent, and manufacturing, 15 percent.
Subcategories that showed job loss in Lake County when compared to May included federal government, -5.3 percent, and educational and health services, -1.7 percent.
Lake County’s 14.9-percent jobless rate ranked it No. 40 of California’s 58 counties.
Neighboring county jobless rates and ranks for June are Colusa, 18.3 percent, No. 54; Glenn, 12.9 percent, No. 26; Mendocino, 12.3 percent, No. 19; Napa, 12.5 percent, No. 20; Sonoma, 11.5 percent, No. 12; and Yolo, 10.6 percent, No. 5.
The pandemic has, in some cases, flipped traditional statewide rankings in which Bay Area counties have had the lowest jobless rates.
That continued in June, with Lassen County holding on for the second month to the No. 1 ranking statewide for lowest unemployment, with 9.5 percent. Rounding out the top five are Trinity County, 9.8 percent; Modoc and Marin tied at 10 percent; and Yolo, 5 percent.
The highest unemployment in the state was recorded in Imperial County, 27.3 percent. Other counties in the bottom five include Mono, 24.7 percent; Alpine, 19.6 percent; Los Angeles, 19.5 percent; and Colusa, 18.3 percent.
Statewide numbers and trends
The Employment Development Department said the number of Californians holding jobs in June was 16,117,000, an increase of 653,300 from May, but down 2,451,900 from the employment total in June of last year.
The number of unemployed Californians was 2,831,000 in June, a decrease of 212,100 over the month, but up by 2,050,000 compared with June of last year, the report said.
The report showed that the industry sectors that were most affected by the shutdown due to the pandemic tended to have the largest job gains in June.
The state said that total nonfarm jobs in California’s 11 major industries totaled 15,671,400 in June – a net gain of 558,200 jobs from May. This followed a revised gain of 134,200 jobs in May.
Total nonfarm jobs decreased by 1,740,600 jobs – a 10 percent decrease – from June 2019 to June 2020 compared to the U.S. annual loss of 12,957,000 jobs, an 8.6-percent decrease, the state said.
The number of jobs in the agriculture industry decreased by 8,500 jobs from May to 313,100, with the Employment Development Department noting that the agricultural industry has lost 113,000 farm jobs since June 2019.
Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs last month, led by leisure and hospitality with 292,500 new jobs; the Employment Development Department said that was the largest job gain due to growth in accommodation and food services, which benefited from statewide reopenings of bars and dine-in restaurants. The sector has regained more than one-third of its job losses from March and April.
The Employment Development Department also reported that, percentage-wise, the construction industry has had the largest rebound since the historic losses in March and April, recovering 68 percent of jobs lost within the sector.
Government had the largest decline in June, with a loss of 36,300 jobs in state and local government educational services.
In other employment-related news, the Employment Development Department said there were 2,778,771 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the June 2020 sample week, compared to 2,154,692 people in May 2020 and 307,704 people in June 2019.
The state said that, concurrently, 284,300 initial claims were processed in the June 2020 sample week, which was a month-over increase of 80,712 claims from May 2020 and a year-over increase of 239,732 claims from June 2019.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A sample of mosquitoes collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile virus, officials said Saturday.
The Lake County Vector Control District said the mosquitoes, Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito), were collected near Middletown on July 14.
“Detecting West Nile virus is typical for July in Lake County,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District.
“Many of us are spending more time at home and in our yards this summer, and during the COVID-19 pandemic it’s easy to forget that West Nile virus is still here,” Scott said. “Thankfully, mosquitoes cannot transmit COVID-19.”
Lake County Vector Control District continues to provide mosquito control services to the community.
If residents need help with a mosquito problem, please call the district from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or request service online anytime at http://lcvcd.org/request-service/ .
The district also provides free mosquito-eating fish for swimming pools or spas that are not being maintained, and for backyard ponds, water features and animal watering troughs.
“Mosquitoes develop in water, so you can protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by dumping out standing water,” Scott said. “Take a walk around your yard today and look for places that might hold water like buckets, toys, and boats and dump out any water you find. If you have a pond, livestock watering trough, or water feature that can’t be drained, then contact the district and we can provide free mosquito-eating fish to prevent mosquitoes from growing there.”
The district encourages residents to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by:
– Dumping or draining standing water to prevent mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle. – Defending yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow the label directions. – Avoiding the outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
So far this year, West Nile virus activity has been detected in one mosquito sample in Lake County.
Statewide, 20 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquitoes.
As of July 17, two human cases of West Nile virus illness have been reported in California residents this year.
Residents with questions or who would like help with a mosquito problem, including reporting a neglected pool or spa, or have an in-ground yellowjacket nest on their property that they want treated should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit the district website at www.lcvcd.org .
NASA now is targeting Oct. 31, 2021, for the launch of the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope from French Guiana, due to impacts from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as well as technical challenges.
This decision is based on a recently completed schedule risk assessment of the remaining integration and test activities prior to launch. Previously, Webb was targeted to launch in March 2021.
“The perseverance and innovation of the entire Webb Telescope team has enabled us to work through challenging situations we could not have foreseen on our path to launch this unprecedented mission,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. “Webb is the world’s most complex space observatory, and our top science priority, and we’ve worked hard to keep progress moving during the pandemic. The team continues to be focused on reaching milestones and arriving at the technical solutions that will see us through to this new launch date next year.”
Testing of the observatory continues to go well at Northrop Grumman, the mission’s main industry partner, in Redondo Beach, California, despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Prior to the pandemic’s associated delays, the team made significant progress in achieving important milestones to prepare for launch in 2021.
As schedule margins grew tighter last fall, the agency planned to assess the progress of the project in April. This assessment was postponed due to the pandemic and was completed this week.
The factors contributing to the decision to move the launch date include the impacts of augmented safety precautions, reduced on-site personnel, disruption to shift work, and other technical challenges. Webb will use existing program funding to stay within its $8.8 billion development cost cap.
“Based on current projections, the program expects to complete the remaining work within the new schedule without requiring additional funds,” said Gregory Robinson, NASA Webb program director at the agency’s headquarters. “Although efficiency has been affected and there are challenges ahead, we have retired significant risk through the achievements and good schedule performance over the past year. After resuming full operations to prepare for upcoming final observatory system-level environmental testing this summer, major progress continues towards preparing this highly complex observatory for launch.”
The project team will continue to complete a final set of extremely difficult environmental tests of the full observatory before it will be shipped to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, situated on the northeastern coast of South America.
This week, the project successfully completed electrical testing of the observatory. The test highlighted a major milestone in preparation for the upcoming acoustics and vibration environmental tests of the full observatory that are scheduled to start in August.
In addition to ongoing deployments, ground system testing of the fully integrated observatory has followed immediately afterwards. Ensuring that every element of Webb functions properly before it gets to space is critical to its success.
The design of a very large space telescope and highly sophisticated instruments was required to enable Webb to answer fundamental questions about our cosmic origins outlined in the National Academy of Sciences 2000 Decadal Survey.
“Webb is designed to build upon the incredible legacies of the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, by observing the infrared universe and exploring every phase of cosmic history,” said Eric Smith, NASA Webb’s program scientist at the agency’s headquarters. “The observatory will detect light from the first generation of galaxies that formed in the early universe after the big bang and study the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets for possible signs of habitability.”
Early next year, Webb will be will folded “origami-style” for shipment to the launch site and fitted compactly inside Arianespace’s Ariane 5 launch vehicle fairing, which is about 16 feet (5 meters) wide.
On its journey to space, Webb will be the first mission to complete an intricate and technically challenging series of deployments – a critical part of Webb’s journey to its orbit about one million miles from Earth.
Once in orbit, Webb will unfold its delicate five-layered sunshield until it reaches the size of a tennis court. Webb will then deploy its iconic 6.5-meter primary mirror that will detect the faint light of far-away stars and galaxies.
Webb is NASA’s next great space science observatory, which will help in solving the mysteries of our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mystifying structures and origins of our universe. Webb is an international program led by NASA, along with its partners European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week is scheduled to consider a resolution to sell a county-owned property to the Lake Transit Agency for its new transit hub.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 21.
The supervisors will meet in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, for a hybrid meeting format which also will include the opportunity for community members to continue to participate virtually.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, please join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 954 2874 7464, password 431002.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item please visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
At 9:02 a.m., the board will get its regular update on COVID-19 from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace.
At 10 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider a resolution declaring property owned by the county of Lake on South Center Drive as surplus and authorizing the sale of the land to Lake Transit Authority for $200,000.
On Jan. 14, the board adopted a resolution to sell the property to Lake Transit for its planned transit hub. At the same time, the board approved a letter in support of a grant application the agency submitted to the state.
In April, the California State Transportation Agency awarded Lake Transit Authority $12,994,000 from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program for the final design and construction of the regional transit center located in the City of Clearlake at the site described previously.
In addition, the grant funding covers the purchase of four hydrogen fuel-cell buses and associated infrastructure.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing, continued from July 7, for the consideration and approval of the Guenoc Valley Mixed Use Planned Development Project.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve (a) ratification of county administrative officer's action to send letters to tenants of the Harbor Village Artist Cottages to offer relief of rent during the COVID-19 Health Emergency; (b) ratification of county administrative officer's action to send a letter to the tenant of the courthouse coffee kiosk to offer relief of rent during the COVID-19 Health Emergency; and (c) authorization for county administrative officer to evaluate future needs of tenants on a continuing basis to offer rent relief when necessary.
5.2: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Cobb Area County Water District for Community Development Block Grant Project Fund Utilization under Agreement 18-CDBG-12872 between the county of Lake and Department of Housing and Community Development.
5.3: Adopt Resolution Approving County of Lake Health Services Department to submit a renewal application and certification statement for the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Grant with the State of California, Department of Public Health for Fiscal Year 2020 through 2021, in the amount of $298,367.23 and authorizing the board chair to sign said certification, and Health Services director to sign application.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, per Ordinance No. 2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve agreement between the county of Lake and A&P Helicopters for Fiscal Year 2020/21 in the amount of $100,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Approve (a) purchase of vehicle equipment from Precision Wireless in the amount of $67,148.97 and installation costs in the amount of $30,024.33 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 28.30; and (b) authorize the sheriff/coroner or his designee to issue purchase orders for said purchases.
5.6: Approve contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program in the amount of $167,162 from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.7: Approve fourth amendment to the lease agreement between county of Lake and Ewing and Associates for the Child Welfare Services parking lot located on South Forbes Street in Lakeport, for the Amount of $4,800 from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Approve the distribution of excess proceeds in the amount of $365,125.41 from Tax Defaulted Land Sale #155 held on June 9, 2017 (Group 2) (per R&T §4675).
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting concurrently as Clearlake Keys CSA No. 1, No. 2, No. 6, No. 7, No. 13, No. 16, No. 18, No. 20, No. 21 and No. 22, Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3 and Lake County Sanitation District, consideration of (a) resolution confirming collections of annual lighting fees; (b) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water fees; (c) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water and sewer fees; and (d) resolution of delinquent sewer fees for Lake County Sanitation District.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution declaring certain real property owned by the county of Lake as surplus and authorizing the sale and disposition of portions of said property for the benefit of the public, and (b) authorize the county administrative officer to execute the vacant land purchase agreement with the Lake Transit Authority for a sale price of $200,000 and to carry out all necessary actions to complete the sale.
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from July 7, consider and approve Guenoc Valley Mixed Use Planned Development Project (AM 18-04; DA 18-01, GPAP 18-01; RZ 18-01 & RZ 20-01; GPD 18-01; SD 18-01, SD 20-01, UP 18-49 and UP 20-02).
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Discussion and consideration of microenterprise home kitchen operations.
7.3: Consideration of updates to return to work protocol.
7.4: Consideration of letter of opposition to SB 474 (Stern).
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.
With the deaths of Rep. John Lewis and the Rev. Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian, the U.S. has lost two civil rights greats who drew upon their faith as they pushed for equality for Black Americans.
Vivian, an early adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died July 17 at the age of 95. News of his passing was followed just hours later by that of Lewis, 80, an ordained Baptist minister and towering figure in the civil rights struggle.
That both men were people of the cloth is no coincidence.
From the earliest times in U.S. history, religious leaders have led the struggle for liberation and racial justice for Black Americans. As an ordained minister and a historian, I see a common thread running from Black resistance in the earliest periods of slavery in the antebellum South, through the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s – in which Lewis and Vivian played important roles – and up to today’s Black Lives Matter movement.
As Patrisse Cullors, a founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, says: “The fight to save your life is a spiritual fight.”
For both men, activism was an extension of their faith. Speaking to PBS in 2004, Lewis explained: “In my estimation, the civil rights movement was a religious phenomenon. When we’d go out to sit in or go out to march, I felt, and I really believe, there was a force in front of us and a force behind us, ’cause sometimes you didn’t know what to do. You didn’t know what to say, you didn’t know how you were going to make it through the day or through the night. But somehow and some way, you believed – you had faith – that it all was going to be all right.”
Fellow civil rights activists knew Vivian as the “resident theologian” in King’s inner circle due to “how profound he is in both his political and biblical exegesis,” fellow campaigner Rev. Jesse Jackson recalled.
Rejecting ‘other world’ theology
Faith traditions inform the civil rights and social justice work of many Black religious leaders. They interpret religious teachings through the prism of the injustice in the here and now.
Speaking of King’s influence, Lewis explained: “He was not concerned about the streets of heaven and the pearly gates and the streets paved with milk and honey. He was more concerned about the streets of Montgomery and the way that Black people and poor people were being treated in Montgomery.”
This focus on real-world struggles as part of the role of spiritual leaders was present in the earliest Black civil rights and anti-slavery leaders. Nat Turner, a leader in the revolt against slavery, for example, saw rebellion as the work of God, and drew upon biblical texts to inspire his actions. Likewise fellow anti-slavery campaigners Sojourner Truth and Jarena Lee rejected the “otherworld” theology taught to enslaved Africans by their white captors, which sought to deflect attention away from their condition in “this world” with promises of a better afterlife.
Incorporating religion into the Black anti-slavery movement sowed the seeds for faith being central to the struggle for racial justice. As the church historian James Washingtonobserved in 1986, the “very disorientation of their slavery and the persistent impact of systemic racism and other forms of oppression provided the opportunity – indeed the necessity – of a new religious synthesis.”
‘Ubuntuism’
The synthesis continued into the 20th century. Religious civil rights leaders like Lewis and Vivian clearly felt compelled to make the struggle for justice a central part of a spiritual leader’s role.
C.T. Vivian leading prayer on the courthouse steps in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.AP Photo/Horace Cort
In 1965, Vivian was punched in the mouth by Dallas County Sheriff Jim Clark in an incident caught on camera and carried on national news. Vivian later said: “Everything I am as a minister, as an African American, as a civil rights activist and a struggler for justice for everyone came together in that moment.”
Though their activism was grounded in Christianity, Lewis and Vivian both forged strategic and powerful coalitions with those outside of their faith. In some ways, they transcended theologically informed ideologies with a world view more akin to Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s interpretation of “Ubuntu” – that one’s own humanity is inextricably bound up with that of others.
Lewis and Vivian personified this value in their leadership styles.
George Floyd
Racial justice remains integral to Black Christian leadership in the 21st century.
After the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, it was the Rev. Al Sharpton whose words were carried across the globe, calling on white America to “get your knee off our necks” at Floyd’s memorial service.
In recent years, the Rev. William J. Barber II has been such a vocal and powerful presence in protests that some Americans consider him to be a the successor to past civil rights greats.
In an interview in early 2020, Barber said: “There is not some separation between Jesus and justice; to be Christian is to be concerned with what’s going on in the world.”
John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian lived those words.
Some of this information appeared in a previous article published on June 17
The boardwalk on the Cache Creek Nature Trail located at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake, California, will receive much-needed pairs thanks to a grant from the California State Parks Foundation. Courtesy photo. LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association has received a grant that will help it purchase materials necessary to repair the boardwalk on the Cache Creek Nature Trail located at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
Part of the cost of the materials is being provided by a $5,000 “Keeping Parks Whole” grant that AMIA has received from the California State Parks Foundation, a member-supported nonprofit that works to create support for California state parks.
“Critical funding from state resources as well as revenue generated from park visitation has been greatly jeopardized by the COVID-19 crisis, and this impact has been felt by park partners who provide financial, educational, and programmatic resources to the community,” said California State Parks Foundation Executive Director Rachel Norton. “Supporting partners like Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association with our Keeping Parks Whole Grant ensures Anderson Marsh State Historic Park will remain protected while also preparing a safe and welcoming experience when the park fully reopens.”
“The iconic wooden boardwalk on the Cache Creek Nature Trail allows access to the Cache Creek habitat at the Park, home to unique flora and wildlife,” explained Henry Bornstein, AMIA treasurer. “Due to the lack of funding, the boardwalk is suffering from serious deferred maintenance and unless repaired, it could become unavailable for guided nature walks and public-school field trips when the park fully reopens. AMIA thanks the California State Parks Foundation for its financial support.”
The repair work will be done by State Parks maintenance personnel using the materials donated by AMIA.
“California State Parks appreciates the ongoing help and support of our partner Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association,” said Park Maintenance Chief Wendy Lieberg. “In times of need, they are always there to help keep the park safe and maintained.”
In compliance with current COVID-19 guidelines, guided public tours at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park have been temporarily suspended. All of the hiking trails, however, remain open and available to the public.
Roberta Lyons, AMIA president, noted that “getting some outdoors exercise has been shown to reduce the stress that we are all now experiencing. AMIA invites the public to take advantage of the opportunity to get into nature and take a walk in the park, while observing recommended guidelines regarding social distancing, face coverings and hygiene.”
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located off of Highway 53 between Lower Lake and Clearlake and is open to the public during daylight hours.
More information about hiking at the Park can be found at www.andersonmarsh.org or by calling AMIA at 707-995-2658.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will consider requests from staff this week to approve an agreement for a state alcohol enforcement grant and the purchase of four generators to prepare the city for public safety power shutoffs.
The meeting will take place via webinar beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 21.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 877-309-2074 or 213-929-4221. The access code is 887-783-896; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21.
Please indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
On Tuesday, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will ask the council to review and adopt a resolution accepting grant funding and joining into partnership with the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control as part of the city being awarded a state grant.
Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department, in partnership with the Clearlake Police Department, applied for grant funding to conduct enforcement and training relative to the presence of alcoholic beverages.
The application secured $24,975 of grant funding for the implementation of “minor decoy” and “shoulder tap” programs and for the conducting of Informed Merchants Preventing AlcoholRelated Crime Tendencies, or IMPACT, inspections, targeting both ABC-licensed premises and individuals who furnish alcoholic beverages to underage subjects.
“This project is targeted to reduce underage drinking and the resultant DUI driving injuries and fatalities, and/or property damage, reduce youth access to alcoholic beverages through education of licensee, enforcement intervention and the impressions of omnipresence of law enforcement in and around the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake,” Rasmussen wrote in his report.
Public Works Director Doug Grider also will seek the council’s approval of the purchase of four standby generators funded by the $300,000 Public Safety Power Shutoff Resiliency Allocation Grant the city has received from the state.
“The generators will replace the existing units at city hall, police department and corporation yard. These all have a history of mechanical issues and are generally undersized. A new unit will be installed at the Silveira Community Center,” Grider said.
Grider said the city received five bids, only one of which met the EPA Tier 4 certification for California Air Resources Board compliance suggested by the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
Grider said that bid came from Leete Generators in the amount of $263,536.
In other business, Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to approve a professional service agreement with 4LEAF Inc. for the provision of supplemental building services in the amount not to exceed $25,000 and the council will be asked to nominate its voting delegates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference to be held Oct. 7 to 9.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on July 8; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the COVID-19 public health emergency; and endorsement of the California Economic Summit’s efforts urging the governor to develop a statewide broadband action policy.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several more dogs of various breeds available to new homes this week.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of border collie, Chihuahua, husky, Labrador Retriever, pit bull, shepherd and terrier.
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.
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”).
This male Anatolian Shepherd is in kennel No. 13, ID No. 13803. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Anatolian Shepherd
This male Anatolian Shepherd has a medium-length black coat with white markings.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 13, ID No. 13803.
“Oso” is a male Boston Terrier in kennel No. 16, ID No. 13796. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Oso’
“Oso” is a male Boston Terrier with a short black and white coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 16, ID No. 13796.
This male pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 13772. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull terrier
This male pit bull terrier has a black coat.
He is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 13772.
This male husky is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 13774. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male husky
This male husky has a medium-length red and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 13774.
This female Chihuahua is in kennel No. 21, ID No. 13792. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female Chihuahua
This female Chihuahua has a short black and brown coat.
She is in kennel No. 21, ID No. 13792.
This female shepherd mix is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 13776. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Shepherd mix
This female shepherd mix has a brindle and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 13776.
This female pit bull is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 13777. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female pit bull
This female pit bull has a short black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 13777.
This female pit bull is in kennel No. 27, ID No. 13783. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female pit bull
This female pit bull has a short black coat.
She has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 27, ID No. 13783.
This male pit bull is in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13794. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull
This male pit bull has a short black and white coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13794.
This female pit bull is in kennel No. 30, ID No. 13799. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female pit bull
This female pit bull has a short black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 30, ID No. 13799.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Officials reported that Lake County is ending the week with another uptick in COVID-19 cases, while the positivity rate for testing had edged down.
Of those 140 cases, 36 are active, 103 are recovered and one has died, Public Health reported.
On Friday night, COVID-19 cases statewide totaled more than 371,000 with nearly 7,600 deaths, based on a compilation of data posted online by county public health departments.
Lake’s neighboring counties had the following case totals on Friday night: Colusa, 173; Glenn, 214; Mendocino, 177; Napa, 583; Sonoma, 2,068; and Yolo, 1,101
Lake County Public Health said three local patients currently are hospitalized and there have been a total of 12 hospitalizations for Lake County COVID-19 patients.
Tests to date total 5,770, including the 140 positive cases and 5,630 negative test results, Public Health reported.
The California Department of Public Health said Friday that 6,044,099 tests have been conducted in California, an increase of 128,591 over the prior 24-hour reporting period.
The state said local health departments have reported 18,857 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 105 deaths statewide.
Lake County’s daily variance metrics show that it has a case rate of 67.8 per 100,000 for a 14-day period, with a 2.9 percent positivity rate – down from 4 percent earlier in the week – and an average of 159.4 tests per day.
As for hospital bed availability, 48.6 percent of medical/surgical beds and 25 percent of ICU beds are available, and 95 percent of the county’s ventilators are free.
On Friday, both Lake County’s hospitals had more than a 14-day supply of personal protective equipment on hand, Public Health 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.
