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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Approximately 120 educators and community members from Lake County recently attended an all-day training entitled “Breaking the Iron Cage of Poverty.”

The presenter was Dr. Donna Beegle, who was born into a migrant labor family and married at 15.

She is the only member of her family who has not been incarcerated. By age 25, Dr. Beegle earned her GED and then, within 10 years, received her doctorate in educational ;leadership.

“This training is important for Lake County because some in our community have become stuck in that cycle of poverty,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

Over 75% of Lake County students qualify for free and reduced lunches. Household income must be at or less than 130% (free) and 185% (reduced) of the federal poverty guidelines. Because of the high percentage of qualifying students, Lake County is considered a high poverty area.

“I contend that education and schools are the key to breaking this cycle. Education is the key to a fulfilled and productive life,” said Falkenberg. “This is why I am in education.”

This training was impactful to the attendees. One educator wrote on Facebook, “One of the best trainings I have attended in my 24-year career in education!”

The Lake County Office of Education’s Educational Services department will be providing several more trainings for local educators in the next few months, with a focus on social and emotional learning. Dr. Beegle will return in July to work with Lake County teachers.

Visit lakecoe.org/calendar for the most current information on upcoming trainings.

For more information on Dr. Donna Beegle, please visit https://www.combarriers.com/.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Wreaths Across America announced that it will make a Lake County stop for the WAA Mobile Education Exhibit, or MEE, national tour.

The MEE started its tour at the WAA Headquarters in Maine and will be in Lakeport on Friday, May 7, for a scheduled event that is both free and open to the public.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the end of Fifth Street near the Yacht Club.

“The goal of the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit is to bring the community together and teach patriotism while remembering the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “However, over the last year, in light of the current health crisis, we feel this exhibit has taken on even more meaning by providing the opportunity for people to safely participate in something that is both educational and inspiring, while supporting and giving back to the communities it visits.”

The MEE achieves this goal by bringing the local community, veterans, active-duty military and their families together through interactive exhibits, short films and shared stories.

The exhibit serves as a mobile museum, educating visitors about the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes as well as to serve as an official “welcome home” station for our nation’s Vietnam veterans.

All veterans, active-duty military, their families, and the local community members are invited and encouraged to visit, take a tour and speak with WAA representatives and volunteers.

They can also share more about the national nonprofit, and the work its volunteers do to support our heroes and their communities year-round.

The public tours for the MEE are free and open to the public with social distancing, sanitation and COVID-19 safety procedures in place to protect the health of all visitors in accordance with the CDCs recommendation for large gatherings stemming from concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wreaths Across America is the nonprofit organization best known for placing wreaths on veteran’s headstones at Arlington National Cemetery.

However, in 2020 alone, the organization placed more than 1.7 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths at 2,557 participating locations nationwide.

Throughout the calendar year you can tune in to Wreaths Across America Radio, 24/7, to learn more about the mission and those who support it across the country, as well as the hundreds of local charitable efforts nationwide that are funded through wreath sponsorships.

You can sponsor a veteran’s wreath anytime for $15 at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Each sponsorship goes toward a live, balsam wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all veterans laid to rest at noon on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, as part of National Wreaths across America Day.
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After having its process disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes, the U.S. Census Bureau on Monday released resident population counts and delivered the 2020 Census apportionment to President Joe Biden.

The agency said that the 2020 Census shows the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2020, was 331,449,281.

The U.S. resident population represents the total number of people living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The resident population increased by 22,703,743 or 7.4% from 308,745,538 in 2010.

The newly released data also shows that California is among a handful of states that will each lose a congressional seat.

“The American public deserves a big thank you for its overwhelming response to the 2020 Census,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “Despite many challenges, our nation completed a census for the 24th time. This act is fundamental to our democracy and a declaration of our growth and resilience. I also want to thank the team at the U.S. Census Bureau, who overcame unprecedented challenges to collect and produce high-quality data that will inform decision-making for years to come.”

“We are proud to release these first results from the 2020 Census today. These results reflect the tireless commitment from the entire Census Bureau team to produce the highest-quality statistics that will continue to shape the future of our country,” acting Census Bureau Director Ron Jarmin said. “And in a first for the Census Bureau, we are releasing data quality metrics on the same day we’re making the resident population counts available to the public. We are confident that today’s 2020 Census results meet our high data quality standards.”

The new resident population statistics for the United States, each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are available on census.gov.

The most populous state was California with 39,538,223 residents; the least populous was Wyoming, whose residents total 576,851.

The state that gained the most numerically since the 2010 Census was Texas, up 3,999,944 to 29,145,505.

The fastest-growing state since the 2010 Census was Utah, up 18.4% to 3,271,616.

Puerto Rico's resident population was 3,285,874, down 11.8% from 3,725,789 in the 2010 Census.

In addition to these newly released statistics, today Secretary Raimondo delivered to President Biden the population counts to be used for apportioning the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In accordance with Title 2 of the U.S. Code, a congressionally defined formula is applied to the apportionment population to distribute the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states.

The apportionment population consists of the resident population of the 50 states, plus the overseas military and federal civilian employees and their dependents living with them overseas who could be allocated to a home state.

The populations of the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are excluded from the apportionment population because they do not have voting seats in Congress.

The counts of overseas federal employees (and their dependents) are used for apportionment purposes only.

After the 1790 Census, each member of the House represented about 34,000 residents. Since then, the House has more than quadrupled in size – from 105 to 435 seats – and each member will represent an average of 761,169 people based on the 2020 Census.

Texas will gain two seats in the House of Representatives; five states will gain one seat each, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon; seven states will lose one seat each, California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; and the remaining states’ number of seats will not change based on the 2020 Census.

Upon receipt of the apportionment counts, the president will transmit them to the 117th Congress. The reapportioned Congress will be the 118th, which convenes in January 2023.

“Our work doesn’t stop here,” added acting Director Jarmin. “Now that the apportionment counts are delivered, we will begin the additional activities needed to create and deliver the redistricting data that were previously delayed due to COVID-19.”

Redistricting data include the local area counts states need to redraw or “redistrict” legislative boundaries.

Due to modifications to processing activities, COVID-19 data collections delays, and the Census Bureau’s obligation to provide high-quality data, states are expected to receive redistricting data by Aug. 16, and the full redistricting data with toolkits for ease of use will be delivered by Sept. 30.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The annual burn ban in Lake County starts on Saturday, May 1.

It’s meant to address concerns over both fire hazard and air quality.

All burn permits expire on April 30.

The burn restriction applies to all areas in Lake County. The burn ban includes all open waste burning, though exemptions are possible for agricultural operations, essential control burns for fire hazard reduction projects, public safety burns and others.

The annual burn ban was first implemented in 1986 in response to weather conditions that often create extreme fire danger and poor air quality.

Air quality officials said a managed approach incorporating fire and air agency concerns has been implemented and improved upon for many years.

The ban allows a quick fire agency response to all fires observed from May 1 on, as they are all assumed to be uncontrolled fires unless specifically authorized by an exemption permit.

This program is credited with being one of the primary reasons Lake County has superior and healthful air quality.

To obtain an exemption permit to burn after May 1, first contact Air Quality at 707-263-7000 to determine need, then contact your local fire agency so that your burn site can be inspected for fire safety.

After the fire agency notifies the air district that the proposed burn site is fire-safe then an exemption permit may be obtained from the air district.

Anyone responsible for open burning during the ban without an exemption permit may be subject to citation, fines and fire agency response costs to extinguish the fire.

Burn restrictions will remain in effect until Cal Fire declares an end to fire season.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District asks the community to help reduce the danger and losses caused by uncontrolled fires and protect the county’s clean air.

“Public cooperation is greatly appreciated and results in a safer and more healthful environment for us all,” the district said.
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In another important milestone in helping Californians rebuild and recover, the state announced on Tuesday that it has cleared eligible wildfire debris from more than 82 percent of eligible properties in Bay Area counties whose owners are participating in the state's Consolidated Debris Removal Program.

Under the program, administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, or CalRecycle, and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, in conjunction with participating counties, property owners incur no direct costs for participation.

To date, state contractors have cleared burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from 540, or 82.6 percent, of the 654 participating properties in Napa, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Lake and San Mateo counties. Statewide, contractors have finished removing debris from 2,704 or 72.2 percent, of 3,745 participating parcels.

Although removal of debris from the properties moves property owners one step closer to rebuilding, debris officials remind property owners that the process is not over and that state contractors must complete additional work before they can begin reconstruction.

Once a state crew has cleared a property of eligible debris, the surveying contractor will return to the site and collect soil samples for testing at a state certified laboratory to verify that the samples taken from an owner's property meet state environmental health and safety criteria.

If the soil samples meet state environmental and safety criteria, contractors then install fiber rolls and apply a virgin-based, biodegradable mulch to every cleared property whose owners have opted to have contractors implement the two types of erosion control measures.

Following these erosion control measures, state officials and staff conduct a walkthrough of the property to ensure that all work done by state crews meets the state's standard. If work meets the state's standards, debris officials submit a final inspection report to local officials, clearing the way for the property owner to begin reconstruction.

In Napa County, crews have cleared eligible debris from 284, or 88.5 percent of the 320 properties whose owners are participating in the state program. Debris officials have returned 52 of the cleared properties to county officials as ready for reconstruction.

Additional work by state crews in Napa County includes the completion of 319 site assessments and 318 asbestos assessments, as well as the abatement of 71 properties where contractors identified bulk quantities of asbestos containing materials, or ACMs.

In Sonoma County, state crews have cleared debris from 142, or 67.3 percent, of the 211 properties in the county whose owners are participating in the program. State debris officials have returned 25 of the cleared properties to county officials as ready for reconstruction.

Contractors in Sonoma County also have completed 211 site assessments, 207 asbestos assessments and 54 asbestos abatements.

Contractors have removed eligible debris from 68, or 95.8 percent, of the 71 participating properties in Santa Clara County. Debris officials have returned 13 properties back to county officials. Earlier, crews completed site and asbestos assessments on each participating property in the county, as well as 40 abatements.

Contractors working in Mendocino County have removed eligible debris from all 31 participating properties after site and asbestos assessments of each parcel and asbestos abatements on four properties.

In Lake County, crews have removed debris from all nine participating properties after site and asbestos assessments of each site and asbestos abatements on three parcels.

Crews in San Mateo County have cleared eligible debris from half of 12 properties in the county whose owners are participating in the program following site and asbestos assessments of each site and abatement of bulk quantities of ACMs on five sites.

State officials coordinating the removal of debris caused by last year's wildfires are reminding property owners participating in the state's Consolidated Debris Removal Program that performing any debris removal work themselves once state contractors have begun will result in their disqualification from the state program.
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California’s state Assembly on Monday approved a historic measure to grant state judicial branch employees the first-ever paid holiday on California Native American Day, which falls on the fourth Friday of September every year.

AB 855, by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland), heads to the state Senate on a unanimous 72-0 bipartisan vote.

Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe, is the first California Native American lawmaker elected in the state’s 170-year history. He has been laboring to enact a California Native American Day since 1998.

“I was a San Manuel council member when I started working toward this goal with then-Assemblymember Joe Baca Sr.,” Ramos said. “This is one more step forward in recognizing and building knowledge about the history, culture and contributions of California’s Native Americans.”

Judiciary employee holidays are set in the Code of Civil Procedure and a change requires legislation. Other state employees are covered in the Government Code.

AB 855 would amend the Code of Civil Procedure to recognize California Native American Day as a judicial holiday to provide proper recognition for the state’s First People and celebrate their history.

It would not create an additional paid holiday for court personnel because Columbus Day would be exchanged for another state holiday, California Native American Day.

Court personnel are currently the only state workers receiving the existing October 12 holiday as a paid day off.

The Judicial Council, a sponsor of the proposal, voted in January to seek authority to ensure California Native American Day is designated as a paid holiday for court employees.

“The Judicial Council is proud to sponsor AB 855 and thanks Assemblymember Ramos for authoring this historic bill,” said Judge Marla O. Anderson, chair of the Judicial Council Legislation Committee. “The judicial branch recognizes that access to justice is served by ensuring all Californians feel seen by the justice system, and this bill recognizes and celebrates the important contributions of Native Americans to this state.”

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said Monday’s vote to allow a paid state holiday to acknowledge and learn about California Native Americans and their story is overdue, adding he was pleased to join Ramos and 70 other colleagues in voting for this measure.

“I am gratified that the work of decades is blossoming and that California Native American history and culture will be highlighted through a paid holiday,” said Baca. “As a member of the state Assembly and Congress, I felt a deep obligation to also honor the many contributions of the First Californians despite the horrific treatment they received as the country moved westward. I hope that one day we see a paid holiday across the U.S. that truly acknowledges Native American culture and history and what we owe them.”

Ramos thanked the Judicial Council for its initiative in bringing the idea for the bill forward.

“For more than 20 years, I have worked to help create a day recognizing California’s First People and their history. California has the greatest number of Native Americans residing within its boundaries, and it is fitting that we begin to expand our commemoration of this holiday,” Ramos said.

AB 855 is sponsored by the Judicial Council. It is also supported by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the California Business Alliance.

Co-authors are Assemblymembers Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Riverside).

This story’s opening paragraph has been edited to clarify that the holiday is applicable to all judicial branch employees, not just the Judicial Council.
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The Lake County Fair in Lakeport, California, was canceled for 2020 but the fair’s directors voted on Monday, April 26, 2021, to hold it again in September 2021. Lake County Fair file photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Fair is set to return this summer after missing a year due to COVID-19.

After canceling the fair in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, on Monday night the Lake County Fair Board voted to bring it back for this year.

It’s one of the largest events in the county, drawing an estimated 40,000 visitors each year.

The Monday vote was 4-1, with Director Kim Hansen voting no due to her concerns about the fair’s finances, Fair Chief Executive Officer Sheli Wright told Lake County News on Tuesday.

Voting to support the return of the fair were Board President Tom Turner, longtime directors Janeane Bogner and Marcia Chauvin, and newest member Kirk Andrus.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Andrus, a well-known and respected local physician, to the fair board in March.

The fair dates this year are Thursday, Sept. 2, through Sunday, Sept. 5, Wright said.

She said they will start planning in early May.

Wright said this year’s fair is expected to be a smaller event than in the past and more volunteer-driven. She said she plans to rely heavily on volunteer support and hire fewer staffers due to the fair’s financial constraints.

She expects concessions and activities will be spread out more throughout the grounds, with signage and possible capacity monitoring.

One of the changes this year is moving the horse show back to Thursday during the fair. Many years ago it was moved to the day before the fair, which Wright said has been a complaint.

She said Jon Hopkins is volunteering to get the entertainment and music lineup put together. The goal is to ensure that as many local musicians as possible are included.

They’re also planning to have grandstand events including a destruction derby and mud bogs, Wright said.

Wright said the Lake County Fair also will have a secondary plan in case there is an upswing in COVID-19 cases that impacts the event.

Many of the details – such as whether there will be indoor exhibits – are still being worked out, Wright explained. With the state anticipating fully reopening by June 15, a lot of the rules that have prevented events like the fair are expected to end.

On April 2 the California Department of Public Health Industry Guidance for Amusement Parks and Theme Parks was updated to add fairgrounds. That led other regional fairs – like that in neighboring Glenn County – to announce plans to move forward with their events. The Glenn County Fair takes place at the end of May.

On Tuesday Wright was headed to the Tehama District Fair in Red Bluff to see how organizers there are handling the event safety.

In another neighboring county, the Colusa County Fair Board voted earlier this year to cancel its traditional June fair and instead hold a week of events around a restructured Junior Livestock Market Evaluation and Auction.

Facing fiscal challenges

This will be the first Lake County Fair for Wright in the CEO’s job. She came on the job last year in mid-March, just as the county, the state and the nation were starting to shut down due to COVID-19.

In June, the fair board took action to cancel the fair. The year 2020 was the first since World War II in which the fair didn’t take place.

Wright did, however, manage to hold the Junior Livestock Auction online in September. The plan is to hold the auction in person once more this year, she said.

Over the past year, Wright and the fair board have had to make tough decisions to cut costs to meet the fair’s financial challenges, which were amplified by the loss of revenue from the pandemic.

They’ve cut back on staff, so that it’s now Wright and groundskeeper extraordinaire Larry Richardson who are the fair’s two employees. Wright credited Richardson for keeping the fairgrounds in great condition and doing the work of six men in the process, noting the pride he takes in his work.

Wright said the fair also has rented the Phil Lewis Hall to the Lake County Superior Court for jury selection and trials. However, that arrangement is soon to end.

Gov. Newsom gave fairs their full allocation in his budget and they are expecting a little more funding to be placed in the revised May budget, which Wright said will keep the Lake County Fair going for much of the rest of this year.

Wright said the fair is looking at other potential revenue streams, including establishing a year-round RV park on the grounds.

The fairgrounds belong to the community and so need community support, Wright said.

She noted that community members are in fact jumping in to help with beautification projects on the grounds, and Wright said they also have interest from FFA and 4-H members who want to be involved.

The fair has a cleanup day event planned on ‌Sunday,‌ ‌May‌ ‌16. The Lake County Fair Foundation is asking for community volunteers. Those wishing to participate should RSVP by May 3 by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Wright said it’s important to remain flexible as they move forward and wait to see what happens over the next four months.

To find out more about how to help the fair this year, call the fairgrounds at 707-263-6181.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Kelseyville Fire Protection District will hold a virtual community meeting this week to discuss a proposal for a fire community facilities district.

The meeting will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29.

Click here to RSVP and receive the telephone/Zoom login information before the meeting.

The information also will be posted here on the day of the meeting.

The meeting agenda is here.

The Kelseyville Fire Protection District reported that it’s considering the formation of a community facilities district.

In order to form the community facilities district, Kelseyville Fire would need to follow a seven-step process.

The community facilities district proposal is being explored as it could provide additional funding for a new fire station on the Soda Bay corridor, a new fire engine, ambulances and salaries for staff members working in the proposed station.

The district said the new fire station would be “incredibly impactful” for nearby residents.

It would be the first fire station located within a five-mile radius of homeowners and so would be expected to significantly reduce fire district response rates and allow for adequate coverage of that portion of the district.

It also could potentially reduce insurance rates for homeowners by enhancing the Insurance Services Office rating.

The station, equipment and salaries would be paid for through a special tax on parcels within the fire district which must be approved by voters in the district.

Working with the firm CivicMic, the fire district will discuss the proposed fire community facilities district, survey results and the formation process at Thursday’s meeting.

For those who haven’t taken the survey about the proposal, find it here.

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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On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will send lifesaving oxygen equipment to India as that country faces a devastating and fast-spreading surge of COVID-19 cases.

“When communities across the world need help, California steps up. As we surpass 28 million vaccinations and continue to see the lowest positivity rates in the country, we must meet this moment with compassion by aiding those that are hardest hit by this pandemic,” said Gov. Newsom. “Everyone deserves quality medical treatment against this terrible disease, and California will answer the call and provide aid to the people of India who so desperately need it.”

Specifically, California will send the following supplies:

– 275 oxygen concentrators. Concentrates the oxygen from a gas supply by selectively removing nitrogen to supply an oxygen-enriched product gas stream. These units are capable of producing 10 liters per minute of oxygen supplied directly to patients via a mask.

– 440 oxygen cylinders. These are large metal cylinders designed to store oxygen that are used for both hospital and at-home use.

– 240 oxygen regulators. The high-flow oxygen regulators for H tanks are used to adjust and control the rate of oxygen flow. These devices provide for greater efficiency in the rate at which oxygen is delivered to patients.

– 210 pulse oximeters. Small sensors generally clipped to the finger, toe or ear lobe that measure the oxygen saturation within an individual’s blood to determine whether they are getting enough oxygen into their bloodstream.

– One deployable oxygen concentrator system, or DOCS. Capable of producing 120 liters per minute of oxygen and is generally used to fill large cylinders.

The distribution of these lifesaving supplies is being coordinated through the U.S. Agency for International Development and will be provided directly to health care providers and front-line workers.

India reported nearly 350,000 new cases on Sunday, the largest single-day total of cases ever recorded by a single country.

California’s contributions come as part of a wider effort by the United States to fight the spread of COVID-19 in India.

On Sunday, the Biden Administration pledged to provide more medical aid to the country, including raw materials for vaccine production, test kits, ventilators and PPE.

The supplies being sent to India are now being tested, packed and prepared for shipment at state warehouse facilities and are expected to be flown out as soon as tomorrow.

California is in a position to distribute these lifesaving supplies because of the early, aggressive actions that Gov. Newsom took to combat COVID-19, which has resulted in the lowest positivity rates in the entire country and more than 28 million vaccines already having been administered in California.

Even while providing these needed supplies to India, California still maintains a robust state stockpile to rapidly respond to any additional outbreaks that may occur within the state.

Previously, Governor Newsom loaned ventilators to Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada and Delaware and also sent millions of items of PPE to neighboring states along the West Coast.
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Matt Perry. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A longtime employee in Lake County’s government and the former county administrative officer has died.

Heber Matthew “Matt” Perry died April 24 of complications of pancreatic cancer. He was 60 years old.

Perry and his wife, Julie, were living in Cache Valley, Utah, where they had moved in 2016 after he retired from the county.

Born in Montana and raised on a Minnesota dairy farm, Perry was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for which he did a two-year mission on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

Perry held a bachelor’s degree in history and a Master’s of Public Administration from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

After graduate school, he and his wife came to Lakeport, where he began his job with the county of Lake.

Retired County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox said Perry was fresh out of college when he hired him to work as an administrative analyst in the County Administrative Office.

“He quickly impressed me with his knowledge, competency and work ethic,” said Cox. “He earned several promotions and eventually served as my chief deputy CAO before being selected by the Board of Supervisors for appointment to the position of county administrative officer after I retired in 2012. He served the board and the citizens of Lake County with distinction and dedication.”

When the Board of Supervisors appointed Perry interim county administrative officer in June 2012, then-Supervisor Rob Brown said Perry asked the board to make the initial appointment on an interim basis to make sure he was a good fit.

In December of that year, the board gave him the job on a permanent basis. His budget acumen and experience with the county’s government were key among the reasons for giving him the job.

Perry would oversee renovations of the Lucerne Hotel, manage the dissolution of the county’s redevelopment agency and work to meet new federal health care law requirements.

But looming over those projects during his tenure was a series of devastating wildland fires that hit Lake County, beginning with the Rocky and Jerusalem fires in the summer of 2015, to be followed in September of that year by the Valley fire, which tore a swath of destruction through southern Lake County.

He had worked for the county for 28 years when he retired in 2016. Shortly afterward, he and wife Julie moved to Utah where he worked in human resources for Utah State University.

His family said he held many roles in the church, and particularly cherished opportunities to work with young people in capacities that included young men’s leader and scoutmaster.

“He was definitely one of the most decent men I’ve ever known,” said Cox. “I’m fortunate that we remained in regular contact even after we both retired and after he and his family relocated to Utah. I am very saddened by the passing of our good friend and my thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

In addition to Julie, his wife of 36 years, Perry is survived by his mother, his three children, his four sisters and four granddaughters.

Perry’s full obituary is here. Information about how to attend his May 1 funeral in Utah via Zoom can be found at http://bit.ly/MattPerryFuneral.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Applicants are being sought to fill vacancies on the Lake County Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Commission, a citizens’ panel that makes inquiries and recommendations into the administration of juvenile court in Lake County.

The Juvenile Justice Commission is created in California Welfare and Institutions Code, sections 225 through 231.

The mission of the Lake County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission is to advocate and protect the safety and well-being of delinquent and dependent youth by continually improving prevention and intervention activities and services.

The primary duties of the Juvenile Justice Commission are:

– To annually inspect all publicly administered juvenile institutions, including Juvenile Hall, and to inspect annually any jail lockup within the County that is used for confinement of any minor for more than 24 hours, and to report the results to the Juvenile Court and county (Welfare & Institutions Code section 229).

– To inquire into the operation of any group home in the County that serves wards or dependent children of the Juvenile Court in order to review the safety and wellbeing of the wards and dependent children (Welfare & Institutions Code section 229.5)

– To inquire into the administration of juvenile justice in a broad sense including, but not limited to, the operations of the Juvenile Court, Probation Department, Social Services Agency, and any other agency involved in juvenile delinquency or dependency (Welfare & Institutions Code section 229).

– May make recommendations to the presiding judge of the Juvenile Court and to send copies of the recommendations to designated county departments.

Commission members should possess the following qualifications:

– Have a personal, professional, and/or academic interest in issues related to youth affected by the Juvenile Court.

– Be comfortable working as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team.

– Have the skills necessary to gather and analyze information objectively; read and understand policies and procedures; read, write and evaluate written reports; and interview youth and juvenile justice professionals.

– Prospective members will be subject to a criminal history background investigation and fingerprint scan. Convictions, depending upon the type, number and how recent, may be disqualifying.

Interested applicants have until May 20 to apply for the commission, whose members serve a four-year term.

Applications are available on the court’s website at www.lake.courts.ca.gov or by calling 707- 263-2374.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a request from the city of Lakeport to reallocate disaster recovery funds the county received to the city to be used for potential housing projects.

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌will‌ ‌begin‌ ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m.‌ ‌Tuesday,‌ ‌April 27, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

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

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

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌ID‌ ‌is‌ 966 3380 8517,‌ ‌passcode 420173.‌ ‌The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,96633808517#,,,,*420173# US.

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

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.‌ ‌

On Tuesday, the board will consider the city of Lakeport’s request to reallocate the county’s share of the 2018 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Multi-Family Housing Program funding of $7,594,201 to the city to develop multi-family housing units.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the supervisors explained that the county of Lake has been allocated funding under this program and is eligible for $7,594,201 and the city of Lakeport is eligible for $2,433,284.

“This program is intended to help fund and develop low to moderate income multifamily housing units intended to address those dislocated as a result of the Mendocino Complex Fire,” Huchingson said.

Huchingson said the county has not been able to pursue this program funding because of the lack of an affordable housing program and relevant policies and procedures.

“The City of Lakeport has had several developers interested in proposing housing projects for these funds and the City has retained a consultant to assist in pursuing this funding. The City of Lakeport approached the County to inquire if we intended to pursue this funding and if not, would the County be agreeable to pool its funding with the City of Lakeport to retain those funds within the County of Lake,” Huchingson said.

She said staff is recommending the funding be reallocated to Lakeport so it can be pooled with the city’s funds so the housing opportunity can benefit Lake County residents.

Huchingson said the county also partnered recently with the city of Clearlake to reallocate Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funding earlier allocated to the county following the Sulphur Fire, part of the North Bay Firestorm of 2017, to ensure the funds remain in Lake County to be used to meet the housing needs of local residents.

In timed items, at 9:06 a.m., the board will get an update on COVID-19.

At 9:40 a.m., the board will present a proclamation designating April as Earthquake Preparedness Month.

At 10:15 a.m., the board will hear a presentation of the development and implementation of the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Adopt proclamation designating the month of April 2021 as Earthquake Preparedness Month in Lake County .

5.2: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and The SmithWaters Group for Patient Rights Advocacy for FY 2021-22 for a contract maximum of $45,000, and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

5.3: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Family Stabilization Program provided at The Nest during Fiscal Year 2021-22 for a contract maximum of $221,000.00 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the MHSA Transitional Age Youth Drop-In Center for Fiscal Year 2021-22 for a contract maximum of $96,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

5.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services, Inc. for the Transitional Age Youth Peer Support Program for Fiscal Year 2021-22 for a contract maximum of $54,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

5.6: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 20, 2021.

5.7: Authorize the IT director to sign the ATO document as authorized agent in order to allow the county to purchase services from AT&T at Calnet contract rates.

5.8: Adoption of resolutions rescinding prior rejections and accepting certain roadways for public use for the purpose of providing increased water flow and necessary fire hydrants for fire protection to the community of Mount Hannah Subdivisions No. 2 and No. 3.

5.9: Approve the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency charter document .

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.

6.3, 9:40 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2021 as Earthquake Preparedness Month in Lake County.

6.4, 9:45 a.m.: a) Consideration of resolution adopting Cannabis Equity Assessment and Adopting the Local Equity Program and program manual pursuant to the California Cannabis Equity Act Of 2018; and b) consideration of motion to direct county administrative officer to sign grant agreement designated as Exhibit A.

6.5, 10:15 a.m.: Presentation of the development and implementation of the Big Valley Groundwater Basin (5-015) Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of request from the city of Lakeport to reallocate the County’s share of the 2018 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Multi-Family Housing Program funding of $7,594,201 to the city of Lakeport to develop multi-family housing units.

7.3: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Middletown Cemetery District, Big Valley Management Zone Commission and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

7.4: Discussion and direction to staff regarding: a) modifications to the Lake County Administrative Penalties Ordinance and b) recouping of costs associated with hazardous vegetation abatement.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Public Employee evaluation: Public Works/ Water Resources/ Community Development director.

8.2: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) interviews of Public Health officer (b) appointment of Public Health officer.

8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(2) (e)(3) – Claim of Lillie.

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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