The California State Treasurer’s Office has released a study of affordability for the water facility construction proposed in the public review draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan, or BDCP.

“The Bay Delta Conveyance Facility: Affordability and Financing Considerations,” is an independent study requested by the California Natural Resources Agency and commissioned by the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC), which is chaired by State Treasurer Bill Lockyer.

The study finds that the cost of the Delta conveyance facility is within the range of urban and agricultural users’ capacity to pay.

Officials said the BDCP would modernize California’s existing water supply system – the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta – and protect water users across the state from water supply disruption due to regulatory restrictions and seismic risks.

The state preferred alternative identified in draft environmental documents calls for the construction of three new intakes in the northern Delta on the Sacramento River and twin tunnels of a combined 9,000 cubic-feet-per-second capacity to protect and transport supply to the existing aqueduct systems in the southern Delta. The participating public water agencies would fund the water system improvements.

However, the plan has come under heavy criticism from officials including Congressman John Garamendi, who represents a portion of Lake County in the US House of Representatives.

Garamendi has called the plan a “boondoggle” and has introduced legislation to block it.

Water from Clear Lake travels to the Bay-Delta through waterways including Cache Creek and the Yolo Bypass.

The treasurer’s report is one more step in the ongoing BDCP development. It estimates the annual debt service cost for SWP and CVP water contractors and identifies steps that will need to be undertaken in order to successfully finance the project over a 50-year period. The report also identifies common risks inherent in financing large infrastructure projects.

The report also illustrates that the cost of the Delta conveyance facility is within the range of urban and agricultural users’ capacity to pay.

The report provides illustrative cost ranges for Metropolitan Water District, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Westlands Water District, and Kern Water District, which have been major funders of the BDCP planning effort. The independent analysis was funded solely by CDIAC.

Examining peak costs over the lifetime of debt financing, the report estimates that the peak annual debt service costs, defined as the average annual costs for the highest 10 years, would be $1.58 billion per year (base case), $1.08 billion per year (best case), and $2.50 billion per year (worst case), all in year-of-expenditure dollars.

These debts would be financed via revenue bonds and repaid by revenues from the SWP and CVP contractors and their ratepayers, not California’s taxpayers.

The treasurer’s report identifies certain commitments that would need to be undertaken by SWP and CVP contractors to enable bonds to be sold for the project.

More than 60 percent of the estimated financial responsibility of SWP contractors’ share of the bonds would be derived from contractors rated Aa3 or AA-higher by Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s.

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and SWP contractors currently use “take or pay” contracts to finance the SWP. Among other issues discussed, the report indicates that BDCP bond contracts for CVP contractors would need to adopt this “take or pay” structure to finance the Delta conveyance. This requires annual fixed payments even when water deliveries fluctuate year to year due to changes in hydrologic conditions.

This approach, along with other requirements, has resulted in very strong credit ratings of AAA/Aa1 on DWR’s bonds and is expected to strengthen the credit ratings for BDCP-related bonds.

The report identifies potential risks to bond financing, such as construction cost overruns and delays, regulatory uncertainty, and unforeseen changes due to climate change. It also cites studies on so-called “megaprojects,” and their potential for cost overruns.

According to the report, bridge and tunnel projects experience cost overruns of 34 percent on average. Currently the BDCP construction budget has a contingency of 36 percent to account for this uncertainty.

To read a copy of the report, visit http://www.treasurer.ca.gov or http://www.baydeltaconservationplan.com .

In related news, the California Department of Water Resources announced that next month it will begin negotiations with SWP contractors on proposed amendments that would modify SWP water supply contracts.

DWR Director Mark Cowin said the objective of the negotiations is to develop terms and conditions for proposed amendments to DWR’s water supply contracts with the 29 public agencies that purchase SWP water for distribution to their customers.

The proposed amendments would define the rights and obligations of DWR and the contractors who would benefit from the BDCP, should the BDCP be implemented.

Cowin stressed that the negotiations are not a forum for making decisions about approving the BDCP. “These negotiations are entirely separate from other BDCP planning activities and the ongoing BDCP evaluation process,” he said.

DWR will open the negotiations to the public to observe and provide comments to DWR at the end of each negotiating session.

Members of the public also may submit written comments within seven calendar days following the negotiating sessions.

The first session will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in Room 1131 of the California Natural Resources Building, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento.

Seating is limited, but the public can listen to the negotiations by calling 1-719-359-9722, passcode 138000#. Public parking will be available in the parking garage at 10th and O streets.

Cowin said the first session will focus primarily on ground rules and other negotiation-related processes and will not address substantive amendment issues. As such, it may adjourn early if the agenda items have been addressed or by mutual agreement of DWR and the SWP Contractors.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service's update forecast expects a rainy Thanksgiving night, with more precipitation likely through the weekend and into the coming week.

The agency on Tuesday issued a special weather statement for Lake County that's in effect through noon on Wednesday due to the expectation of rain and, in higher elevations, snow.

The forecast also predicts patchy fog after 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Forecasters reported that high pressure will keep conditions dry and mild through Thanksgiving day, with precipitation from the first of a series of storms expected to arrive late Friday. Heaviest rain and snow is expected late Sunday to Monday.

Around Lake County, the rain could come sooner.

While the day will be clear on Thanksgiving, that night there is a 30-percent chance of showers around the county, according to the specific forecast.

During the day on Friday, chances of precipitation around the county are expected to hold at 30 percent and increase to as much as 80 percent at night.

Rain also is likely from Saturday through Tuesday, according to the forecast.

Light winds also are in the forecast, with daytime temperatures ranging from the low 50s to mid 60s, with nighttime lows in the 40s.

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 Thanksgiving just days away, Cal Fire is reminding Californians about the dangers that home fires pose during the holiday season.

Thanksgiving is a time of food, fun and festivities; but this time of year is also a time to be extra cautious as thousands of home fires across the nation are caused from holiday cooking.

With friends and family visiting, it’s important to not get distracted and to be aware of your cooking activities. 

“The holidays bring inherent fire danger that can quickly lead to tragedy if you don’t take just a few easy steps to prevent a fire,” said Chief Tonya Hoover, California’s State Fire Marshal. “Just by keeping an ‘eye on what you fry,’ you can reduce the chance of a cooking caused fire.”

To help reduce the chance of fire and injuries associated with cooking fires, Cal Fire would like to offer the following tips:

– Don’t leave cooking unattended and keep an eye on what you fry. If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off.
– Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Someone walking by is less likely to bump them and it prevents a curious child from pulling them over.
– Food preparation and cooking should always be supervised by an adult.
– When using a turkey fryer, be sure to follow instructions closely. Don’t exceed the recommended oil level and only use the device outdoors away from structures.
– Make sure a fire extinguisher is handy at all times. Never use water to put out a grease fire.
– Ensure you have working smoke alarms installed throughout your home.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On a Thursday in September, one life would be saved and three lives would be changed forever.

This is the story of “Honey” – today, known as “Anna” – a dog whose story might have had a sad ending had it not been for a number of people who cared enough to help her get a new home and a new life.

During her second time in Clearlake, Special Agent Jill Brenny was assigned to an enforcement sweep of gang offenders and was accompanied by two additional Special Agents in the Gang Unit of Homeland Security Investigations, along with Clearlake Police officers and a Lake County Probation agent.

The group came upon a trash-filled lot with a filthy and forlorn female pit bull chained to a fire-charred and dilapidated RV with busted out windows.

The dog's eyes were crusted with infection and open sores that appeared to be burn marks covered her ears and neck.

Her head hung low, though she stirred when she heard voices.

“There was no way I was leaving that dog there,” said Brenny.

Little did she realize that she would put in motion a rescue effort that would span four states.

Det. Tom Riley of the Clearlake Police Department called Clearlake Animal Control, and Officer Jenna Tuller responded.

As she was approached by Tuller, the dog held up her injured leg in a silent plea for help.

Due to her deplorable condition, the dog was confiscated by Clearlake Animal Control and named “Honey.” She was taken to the SPCA of Clear Lake.

Agent Brenny – who lives in San Francisco – knew she could not leave Honey behind. What would become of her?

Brenny started emailing and texting fellow dog lovers who she thought might be looking for an addition to their family.

She found the one – Hence Williams, a US Probation Officer and EMT in Vernal, Utah. 

Brenny kept calling the SPCA to let them know that Honey would have a home when she was ready to leave.

She and Williams kept in close touch and they decided that she would pick up Honey at the SPCA and drive her to meet Williams in Reno.

In addition to potty breaks, Brenny pulled over several times during the six-hour ride to comfort Honey.

“I couldn't believe that, after all she had been through, she was so sweet and just wanted to be in my lap the whole time I was driving,” Brenny said.

Williams was waiting in Reno when Brenny and Honey arrived.

He had brought along his other rescued pit bull, named Cooper. Both girls look like twins separated at birth. They bonded immediately and have been inseparable, even sleeping cuddled up together.

Williams has renamed Honey “Anna.”

He decided to take Anna to his old vet in New Mexico, with whom he had a longstanding relationship.

After a thorough exam and x-rays, it became apparent that Anna had sustained a broken humerus during her years of abuse and neglect and that the bones had healed offset, which was causing her pain.

That vet offered his opinion that the leg could not be saved, and an amputation was performed on Nov. 19.

Anna has taken the surgery in stride and quickly learned to navigate on three legs. She is currently undergoing a period of rehabilitation.

Her spirits are good. She will be spending this Thanksgiving in a home filled with love and on her special dog bed.

The SPCA of Clear Lake extended a deep and heartfelt thank you to Brenny and Williams for their selfless commitment to rehoming a badly abused pit bull. Their selfless acts have given Anna a happy ending.

Animal cruelty charges have been filed against the previous owner, and the SPCA said it would provide an update as more information becomes available.

Others can share that wonderful feeling of saving a life, of being a hero to that animal, by helping support other animals that are in desperate need of care.

If you would like to help with the cost of medical treatment for Anna or for other injured pets at the shelter, please make a donation to the SPCA of Clear Lake's Fund For Injured Pets.

Contributions are tax-deductible and can be sent to Mary Jane Montana, 8025 Highway 29, Kelseyville, CA 95451, or can be called in to 707-279-1400.

The SPCA of Clear Lake is a nonprofit charitable corporation. It's supported by volunteers and staff striving to find homes for all of its needy dogs and cats. They're focused on educating owners about responsible pet care to try to prevent future Honeys in Lake County.

Laura Pierce is a volunteer with the SPCA of Clear Lake, headquartered in Kelseyville, Calif.

The California Highway Patrol's communications centers – which answer approximately seven million 911 calls per year – have been formally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) under the Public Safety Communications Agencies Accreditation Program.

“The CHP received this prestigious award after ensuring our policies and procedures meet or exceed standards set by law enforcement professionals from across the nation,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to public safety and means that CHP’s 911 call centers meet national standards of excellence.”

To meet accreditation standards, the CHP implemented a statewide quality assurance program for its 25 communications center.

Supervisors review audio tapes of 911 calls and analyze performance according to several performance measurements, including the dispatcher’s speech, prioritizing of information, and accuracy documenting calls.

Dispatchers receive constructive feedback and are given an opportunity for self-assessment.

By receiving accreditation for its communications centers, the CHP became one of the first two agencies in California to receive the CALEA TRI-ARC award, which recognizes concurrent accreditation for law enforcement, public safety communications, and public safety training activities.

The CHP was awarded initial accreditation in 2010 and was reaccredited in 2013, the same year the CHP Academy in West Sacramento was also accredited.

CALEA was established in 1979 as a law enforcement credentialing authority through the joint efforts of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum. To maintain accreditation, CHP must undergo a comprehensive assessment every three years.

For more information on accreditation process and the CALEA TRI-ARC Award visit www.calea.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Several agencies are involved with the investigation into what caused a gas storage gas fire at a Lakeport business Sunday morning.

The fire at Westgate Petroleum, 3740 Highland Springs Road, was first reported just before 9 a.m., and contained about an hour later, with firefighters clearing the scene at around noon, according to Lakeport Fire Protection District Chief Doug Hutchison.

A large storage tank holding unleaded fuel – surrounded by five other large tanks containing diesel and kerosene – was the one that caught fire, with nearby tanks also sustaining some damage, according to Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart, who on Sunday afternoon was documenting the scene.

Caltrans and county roads crews closed nearby Highway 29 for nearly an hour and a half while firefighters worked at the scene.

Hutchison said the fire began while a tanker truck was filling the unleaded tank with fuel.

There were no injuries, said Hutchison.

“There's multiple agencies investigating just what exactly happened,” Hutchison added.

Other than the main tank that burned, there was surprisingly little damage to the rest of the storage tanks, which are grouped together about 50 yards from the consumer gas pumps.

“Everybody did the exactly right thing,” from evacuating to shutting down the roads, said Hutchison.

Gearhart said the fire – which initially was sending up a large cloud of black smoke – didn't appear to have done any damage to air quality.

“It looked like the smoke broke through the inversion layer and stayed aloft,” said Gearhart.

Firefighters were on scene for about 45 minutes before they could go into a direct attack on the fire, which Hutchison said was because they were waiting for fire agencies from around the county to bring all the available Class B fire suppression foam they could.

Foam is more effective on petroleum-based fires, explained Hutchison. That's because petroleum products will simply float on the water. “You're just going to spread the fire out.”

He said Class B foam increases the surface tension of the water, creating an aqueous film that helps seal off oxygen from the burning fuel.

“It basically smothers the fire,” he said.

However, to use it effectively, there needs to be enough of the foam on hand to entirely coat an area in the first 15-minute application, with a second application needed about 15 minutes later. The procedure is based on a formula firefighters follow, Hutchison said.

As a result, Hutchison said the rule is that firefighters don't actively start fighting such a petroleum fire until they have enough foam to knock it down.

Lakeport Fire, Kelseyville Fire and Northshore Fire brought all the foam they had available, Lake County Fire sent its hazmat rig, and South Lake County Fire and Cal Fire was sending foam as well when they were canceled because enough had arrived at the scene, Hutchison said.

While waiting for the foam supply, Hutchison said Pacific Gas and Electric was called as a precaution to shut down nearby transmission lines.

Hutchison said that the goal was to deenergize the lines in case the burning gas tank collapsed – which he said was a significant concern.

If there had been a catastrophic tank structure failure, the power lines – had they still been on – could have been a secondary source of ignition, he said.

Once the foam was on the fire, Hutchison said it took about a minute to knock it out.

After it was contained, Hutchison said firefighters remained on scene a few more hours to reapply foam and make sure there were no flashbacks.

“Fortune was on our side, that the way this fire started and was burning was a little bit different than a lot of fires you have,” he said.

Hutchison said the tank had fuel flowing out of the top of it when the fire started, which was a better situation than having the fire pool down below.

The tanks on either side of the burning tank were full, which also worked in the favor of firefighters, as liquid is able to absorb more heat than air inside an empty tank, he said.

The two nearest tanks also were filled with kerosene and diesel, which have higher ignition points than gasoline, he said.

Had one of the tanks only been half full – and contained gas instead of diesel or kerosene – “We could have had a different story,” Hutchison said, noting there could have been a big fire ball.

Westgate Petroleum was closed for the rest of the day on Sunday, and it wasn't immediately clear when the fueling station might reopen.

Hutchison said the business will have to have at least two to three of its tanks reinspected for structural integrity before they can use them.

On Sunday afternoon, it appeared that the tanks were being emptied, possibly for that inspection process.

Gearhart said Westgate Petroleum needs to hire an environmental company conduct the cleanup, and will have to do followup with his agency, which oversees local gas stations.

Hutchison said that, overall, “It was a good day. Nobody got hurt and the fire got put out.”

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. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office has identified the man killed Saturday night while riding his bicycle in Middletown.

William Terrence Mullen, 62, died in the crash, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

Mullen was riding his bicycle southbound on Highway 29 south of Central Park Road shortly after 10 p.m. Nov. 22 when, according to witnesses, he veered into the northbound lane and was hit by a 1992 Chevrolet Blazer driven by Alma Cross, 62, of Clearlake, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP said that Mullen, who was thrown from his bike by the impact of the crash, landed in Highway 29's southbound lane and was hit by a 2006 Volvo driven by Aria Mulvihill, 21, of Hidden Valley Lake. He died at the scene.

The CHP initially identified Mullen as a St. Helena resident. However, Brooks said Mullen, who had a Calistoga address, was a transient. Brooks said it's not clear how long he had been living in Lake County.

An autopsy was conducted on Mullen on Wednesday morning, Brooks said.

Brooks said that as part of the forensics examination, blood alcohol and toxicology testing is being completed.

He said it could take as long as six to eight weeks for those results to come back.

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.

An estimated 78.1 percent of people in U.S. households had a high-speed Internet connection last year, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

However, digital divides exist among the nation’s metropolitan areas and demographic groups.

These statistics come from the American Community Survey, which collected data on this topic for the first time in 2013 and is the largest survey used to examine computer and Internet use in the U.S.

Although most Americans have access to computers and high-speed Internet, differences in high-speed Internet use were as large as 25 percentage points between certain age and race groups, while divides between specific income and educational attainment groups were as large as 45 percentage points.

In addition, among the nation’s metro areas, Boulder, Colo., had one of the highest rates of high-speed Internet use at 96.9, while Laredo, Texas, had one of the lowest rates at 69.3 percent.

The report, “Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2013,” includes analysis of household computer ownership and Internet use by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, income and education. It covers areas of the country with populations larger than 65,000.

“These new statistics show how the American Community Survey gives communities the information they need on both computer and Internet access for their residents,” Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson said. “As the Census Bureau continues to move more surveys online to reduce respondent burden, these statistics inform us of areas that have high and low Internet use. These statistics also provide the information communities and federal agencies need to make decisions to improve and expand broadband Internet access for all Americans.”

The report shows that 75.2 percent of metropolitan area households reported high-speed Internet use, compared with 63.1 percent of nonmetropolitan households.

In addition, 85.1 percent of metropolitan households reported owning a computer, compared with 76.5 percent of nonmetro households.

“In the past we’ve only been able to look at computer and Internet use patterns down to the state level, but with this new research we can actually start to understand what’s happening in American cities,” said Thom File, a Census Bureau sociologist and the report’s author. “As computing technologies continue to evolve and become more central in American life, it’s increasingly important to understand where disparities and divides exist across the country. These new statistics allow us to do exactly that.”

Some states, such as California, Florida and Washington, had a variety of high and low performing areas within their borders, often very near one another.

California, for example, had rates of computer ownership and high-speed Internet use above the national average.

However, certain parts of the state, specifically those in the San Francisco Bay Area (including Napa, San Francisco and San Jose), had high percentages of computer ownership and high-speed Internet use, while metropolitan areas in the nearby Central Valley (including Bakersfield, Fresno and Hanford) had significantly lower estimates on both indicators.

Computer ownership and Internet use were most common in the following types of households:

– Homes with relatively young householders: 92.5 percent of homes with a householder age 35 to 44 reported owning a computer, while 82.5 percent reported Internet use.
– In Asian households and white non-Hispanic households: 86.6 percent of Asian households and 77.4 percent of white households reported Internet use.
– In households with high incomes: 98.1 percent of households making $150,000 or more had a computer, while 94.9 percent reported Internet use.
– Householders with high educational attainment: 95.5 percent of homes with a householder with at least a bachelor’s degree had a computer, while 90.1 percent reported Internet use.

The most common household connection type was cable modem (42.8 percent), followed by mobile broadband (33.1 percent) and digital subscriber line (DSL) (21.2 percent).

About a quarter of all households had no paid Internet subscription (25.6 percent), and only 1.0 percent of all households reported connecting to the Internet using only a dial-up connection.

The most common household computer ownership was a desktop or laptop, and 63.6 percent reported a hand-held computer (smartphone or other hand-held wireless computer).

As part of the 2008 Broadband Data Improvement Act, Congress mandated that the Census Bureau begin asking about computer and Internet use in the American Community Survey.

Federal agencies will use these statistics to measure the nationwide development of broadband networks and to allocate resources intended to increase access to broadband technologies, particularly among groups with traditionally low levels of access.

State and local governments will use these statistics for similar purposes, and businesses and nonprofits will use the information to better serve their communities as well.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment rate held steady in October, according to the state's latest report on jobless numbers.

The Employment Development Department said Lake County's unemployment rate was 8.8 percent in October, unchanged from the revised 8.8 reported in September. However, the October number is down from the 10.9 percent reported a year ago.

Lake County's September and October unemployment rate is the lowest since October 2007, according to Employment Development Department historical data.

In October, California's overall unemployment rate, 7.3 percent, also remained unchanged from September, but was down from the year-ago rate of 8.6 percent, the state reported.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said US unemployment dropped in October to 5.8 percent, down from 5.9 percent in September and 7.2 percent in October 2013.

The US unemployment rate in October was the lowest since July 2008, according to the agency's data.

The Employment Development Department's latest report said that California's nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 41,500 during the month for a total gain of 1,446,600 jobs since the recovery began in February 2010.

Those findings are based on data from two separate surveys – a federal survey of 5,5,00 households, which determines the unemployment rate, and a survey of 58,000 California businesses that measures jobs in the economy.

Based on the survey of businesses, nonfarm jobs in California totaled 15,567,600 in October, an increase of 41,500 jobs over the month, with a year-over-year change – October 2013 to October 2014 – of 319,500 jobs, up 2.1 percent.

The report said that the federal survey of households showed an increase in the number of employed people, with Californians holding jobs in October estimated at 17,396,000, an increase of 89,000
from September 2014, and up 426,000 from the employment total in October of last year. That followed a loss of 14,200 jobs in September.

The number of people unemployed in California was 1,361,000, which the Employment Development Department said was down by 1,000 over the month, and down by 237,000 compared with October of last year.

Lake County's job picture

Lake County was ranked No. 44 statewide for its October unemployment rate.

That's compared to the following rates and rankings for Lake's neighboring counties, according to the Employment Development Department: Colusa, No. 56, 11 percent; Glenn, No. 38, 8 percent; Mendocino, No. 10, 5.7 percent; Napa, No. 4, 4.4 percent; Sonoma, No. 5, 5 percent; and Yolo, No. 23, 6.7 percent.

Marin retained its position of No. 1, with the state's lowest unemployment rate, 3.9 percent. At the other end of the spectrum was Imperial County, at No. 58, with a rate of 23.7 percent.

Lake County's civilian labor force in October totaled 26,750, up from 26,710 in September and 26,640 in October 2013, according to state data.

Approximately 2,360 people were unemployed in October and 2,350 in September, compared to 2,900 out of work in October of last year, the state reported.

In October, job categories showing growth in Lake County included information, 6.7 percent; government, 1.2 percent; educational and health service, 0.7 percent; retail trade, 0.5 percent; and service providing, 0.3 percent.

Declines were seen in total farm, -6.7 percent; goods producing, -4.5 percent; leisure and hospitality, -3 percent; and other services, -2.2 percent.

Statewide job categories showing growth, declines

The Employment Development Department said job gains in California in October came in eight industry categories – construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government.

The report said 42,400 jobs were added in those eight categories, with professional and business services posting the largest increase over the month – adding 12,500 jobs.

Three categories showed declines totaling 900 jobs from September to October – mining and logging; financial activities; and other services. Financial activities and other services posted the largest decreases over the month, down 400 jobs each, according to the Employment Development Department.

Nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 319,500 jobs, or 2.1 percent, from October 2013 to October 2014, the report showed.

Looking at a year-over-year comparison, the Employment Development Department said 10 categories posted job gains that resulted in the addition of 324,200 jobs. 

Those categories were mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government, the agency said.

Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 106,400 jobs, an increase of 4.5 percent, while construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 5.3 percent, or the addition of 34,300 jobs.

One category, financial activities, showed declines amounting to a loss of 4,700 jobs – or a 0.6-percent decrease – over the year, the report showed.

In other employment news, the Employment Development Department said there were 392,093 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the October 2014 survey week, compared with 392,823 last month and 405,761 last year.

New claims for Unemployment Insurance were 52,788 in October, compared with 52,279 in September and 72,737 in October of 2013, the agency 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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Recent rains and cooler temperatures across the region have lowered the threat of wildfires, allowing Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit to transition out of another busy fire season.

Effective at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, fire season will end in Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Colusa, Yolo and Solano counties.

This year's fire season is ending a few weeks earlier than was the case in 2013. Last year, Cal Fire declared the end of the season on Dec. 16.

“The recent rainfall has been welcomed in the North Bay Area, yet the area still remains under serious drought conditions,” said Unit Chief Scott Upton.

Upton reminds homeowners that the winter months provide the best weather patterns for homeowners to create or maintain their defensible space around their homes.

One hundred feet of defensible space has proven to save homes during a wildland fire incident
and is a mandatory California State Law (Public Resource Code 4291).

With the transition out of fire season on Dec. 1, Cal Fire burn permits – for the State Responsibility Area – are not required until May 1, 2015.

However, burn permits are required throughout Lake County. Call Lake County Air Quality Management District at 707-263-7000 for more information.

As drought conditions continue to have a hold on California, Cal Fire is maintaining staffing that meets
the current threat, as well as strategically moving resources to areas that remain at a higher threat level.

Cal Fire reported that it also will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and still has the ability to increase staffing should the weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires in other areas of the state.

The 2014 fire season has been an extremely active year. Statewide, Cal Fire and firefighters from many
local agencies battled more than 5,500 wildfires within the State Responsibility Area that burned nearly 91,000 acres. This number is more than 1,000 more wildfires this year than normal.

In the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, Cal Fire responded to 346 wildfires that charred 11,327 acres, compared to 902 fires and 536 fires during the peak of the 2013 and 2012 seasons, respectively, according to historical data.

Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit urges residents within its six-county area to still take precautions outdoors in order to prevent sparking a wildfire.

A leading cause of wildfires this time of year is from escaped landscape debris burning, officials said.

Before you burn, ensure it’s a permissive burn day by contacting your local air quality district and then make sure you have any and all required burn permits.

During burning, make sure that piles of landscape debris are no larger than four feet in diameter, provide a 10-foot clearance down to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and that a responsible adult is in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.

For more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .

For addition fire prevention tips visit http://www.preventwildfireca.org/ .

Thanksgiving is the biggest travel holiday of the year in the United States. Millions of people board airplanes and fly long hours to visit friends and family.

Dreading the trip? Think of it as a sky watching opportunity. There are some things you can see only through the window of an airplane. Atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley lists a few of his favorites.

“Both sides of the aircraft have their own sights,” said Cowley. “On the side opposite the sun, the main thing to look for is the glory. Clouds below the aircraft are required. They are the canvas on which the glory is 'painted.'”

“Look toward the antisolar point, the place in the clouds directly opposite the sun,” he instructed. “There, if the aircraft is low enough, you will find the shadow of the plane. Surrounding the shadow is the glory – a bright white glow surrounded by one or more shimmering rings of color.”

For a picture of a glory, visit http://www.atoptics.co.uk/droplets/glorair.htm .

“These rings are formed when light is scattered backwards by individual water droplets in the cloud. The more uniform the size of the droplets, the more rings you will see. They swell and contract as you travel over clouds with smaller or larger droplets.”

No clouds beneath you?

“In that case,” said Cowley, “another optical effect might be visible, especially over arid regions or pine forests. This is the opposition effect, a bright patch of light moving along the ground below you. The brightening, which is always directly opposite the sun, marks the point where the shadows of objects, like trees or soil granules, are hidden beneath the objects themselves. The area consequently looks brighter than its surroundings.”

Visit http://www.atoptics.co.uk/atoptics/oppim1.htm to view an image of the opposition effect, photographed by Eva Seidenfaden flying over Uzbekstan. A similar phenomenon has been observed on the moon.

Turning to the sunward side of the aircraft ...

“That is the realm of ice halos,” said Cowley. Ice halos are rings and arcs of light caused by ice crystals in high clouds. “They are often rainbow-colored,” he notes, “but they are not rainbows.”

From the ground you look up to see these halos. From an airplane you look down.

“You might be able to see subhorizon halos invisible from low ground,” said Cowley. “The brightest, sometimes blindingly bright, is the subsun. This is a direct reflection of the sun from millions of flat plate-shaped ice crystals floating in the clouds beneath you and acting together as a giant mirror. As the aircraft moves the subsun drifts along the clouds, sometimes growing, sometimes contracting, sometimes wobbling as crystals with different tilts are sampled. Sometimes a column of light will extend upward from the subsun toward the real sun--this is a lower sun pillar.”

“Sunrise and sunset from high altitudes are special,” Cowley adds. “The speed of the aircraft can make them faster or slower than usual. Furthermore, the sun is extra-flattened because its light is refracted almost twice the normal amount by its passage into the dense lower atmosphere and then out again to you. On a night flight, you might catch the moonrise; its distortions and flattening are greater for the same reason.”

“And if none of these things are visible on your particular flight, ignore fellow passengers and crane your head to see some of the sky above you. It is dark and a deep violet blue – darker than you will ever see on the ground. A large part of Earth's atmosphere is beneath and there are far fewer molecules to scatter the sun's light and turn the sky blue. You are not far from space.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week Lake County Animal Care and Control has a full house of tabby cats ready for homes.

The cats – in varying shades of gray and orange – range in age from kittens to adults.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

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

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

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

Male orange tabby

This adult male orange tabby has a short coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 27, ID No. 1278.

Male orange tabby kitten

This male orange tabby kitten has a short coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 33b, ID No. 1012.

Male orange tabby kitten

This male orange tabby kitten has a short coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 33c, ID No. 1013.

Domestic medium hair

This male adult domestic medium hair cat with a gray tabby coat.

He is in cat room kennel No. 66b, ID No. 1168.

Female gray tabby

This female gray tabby kitten has a medium-length coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 90a, ID No. 1276.

Female gray tabby

This female gray tabby kitten has a medium-length coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 90b, ID No. 1277.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.