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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters are wrapping up efforts to fully contain the Sand fire in Yolo County’s Capay Valley.

Cal Fire said the Sand fire, which began Saturday afternoon near Guinda, remained at 2,512 acres with growth at 90 percent as of Wednesday night.

Seven non-residential structures have been destroyed, and the fire had at one point necessitated evacuations along County Road 41 and a closure of Highway 16.

Cal Fire said fire crews made good progress on the fire on Wednesday, constructing new fire line and strengthening current lines.

Fire crews were set to continue that work overnight, along with patrolling and mopping up hot spots.

The resources assigned to the fire on Wednesday night included 622 firefighters, 45 fire engines, 26 fire crews, one helicopter, four dozers and four water tenders, Cal Fire reported.

While evacuation orders and road closures have been lifted, Cal Fire asked the public to be aware of firefighters still working in the fire area and to drive carefully.

In other state fire news, Cal Fire said the McMillan fire burning in San Luis Obispo County was 2,000 acres and 50-percent contained.

The fire began early Wednesday afternoon. Within hours, firefighters had stopped forward spread, Cal Fire reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council will hold a budget workshop this week ahead of its regular meeting, during which it will consider approving the new fiscal year budget.

The council will meet for the budget workshop at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 13, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

During that workshop, the council will hold a swearing-in ceremony for Russell Perdock, who the council voted last week to appoint to fill Mayor Nick Bennett’s unexpired term, as Lake County News has reported.

The council also will review the 2019-20 proposed budget during the workshop, and hold a closed session to discuss employee negotiations, the city’s lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric and a lawsuit filed against the city, Matamoros v. City of Clearlake.

During the regular meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., the council will host a swearing-in of new Police Officer Jesus Loera, hear a presentation by Lake County Health Services on tobacco prevention and education, and present a proclamation declaring June as LGBT Pride Month.

On the agenda on Thursday, the council will hold a public hearing for adoption of the appropriations, or Gann limit, for FY 2019-20 and designating the formula to be used for the limit’s calculation.

Public hearings also are scheduled to consider adoption of the city of Clearlake’s budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 and the city’s fee schedule for FY 2019-20.

The council also will hold a public hearing for a proposed ordinance requiring registration of vacant, abandoned or foreclosed commercial buildings, with a second reading and adoption of the ordinance planned on June 27.

In council business, the council will consider approving a two-year agreement between the county of Lake, city of Lakeport and city of Clearlake for support of Lake County PEG TV station, as well as approval of an agreement between the county of Lake and city of Clearlake regarding a road maintenance program for 40th Avenue, Davis Avenue and Moss Avenue for Fiscal Year 2018-19 through FY 2023-24.

The council also will discuss traffic calming measures and mayor’s appointments for this year.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; continuation of a declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; second reading of Ordinance No. 229-2019 amending Section 5 and 18 of the Clearlake Municipal Code related to cannabis; a resolution No. 2019-24, approving a temporary street closure for the 62nd annual July 4 parade on July 6, 2019; and minutes of the April 10, 2019, Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting.

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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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A fire that burned late Sunday night and into early Monday morning destroyed a barn and equipment near Lakeport, and resulted in a temporary power shutdown to an area that included city of Lakeport water wells.

The fire was located in a barn in a pear orchard on Scotts Valley Road near the Scully Packing pear shed, according to Lakeport Fire Chief Rick Bergem.

Cal Fire dispatched local fire districts – including Lakeport, Kelseyville and Northshore Fire – along with Cal Fire units just after 12 a.m. Monday, according to radio reports.

Bergem said the fire originally was reported by a REACH helicopter that was flying over the area and saw the fire.

When Lakeport Fire units arrived on scene, shortly after 12:15 a.m., they found the barn fully involved. They were able to contain it to the structure, according to radio reports.

The barn appeared to be one of the old hop barns, said Bergem, explaining that it was full of equipment – including spray machines, tractors and a walnut drying machine.

A nearby resident reported to Lake County News that they could hear explosions from the area of the fire.

“The building was a total loss,” with all of the contents destroyed, Bergem said.

Bergem said Pacific Gas and Electric Co. also was called to the scene. A power pole was on fire, a service drop came down – although main power lines stayed impact – and the main power line that runs through the area was impacted.

PG&E had to temporarily shut off power to the area, which Bergem said covers the city of Lakeport’s Green Ranch wells that supply its domestic water system. He said the power was restored a few hours later.

Bergem said firefighters cleared the scene at about 9 a.m. Monday.

Lakeport Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris told Lake County News that there were no issues for the city’s water system as a result of the short-term outage.

“The duration of the power outage was not very long so it had minimal impact to our water storage,” he said. “There was no sterilization requirements as it is normal operation for the wells to cycle on and off as needed for demand. The wells pump water to our storage tanks which sustain pressure to the distribution system utilizing gravity with elevation.”

Bergem said the fire remains under investigation.

“We don’t have a determination on origin or cause,” he 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.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – State Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced Wednesday that the 2019-20 state budget will include $9.25 million in funding for research to better understand and forecast atmospheric rivers, leading to improved flood control and water retention in a state grappling with the effects of climate change and chronic drought.

“This is a smart investment to protect our precious water resources in the most efficient way possible,” Sen. Dodd said. “It will give our state the additional tools it needs to forecast extreme rain and control how much water we save as we face increasingly unpredictable conditions brought on by global warming.”

The funding, which is expected to be approved by the Legislature this week, will allow the Department of Water Resources to research how it can better forecast the intensity and landfall locations of atmospheric rivers.

Lake County has been hit hard by atmospheric river storms that occurred earlier this year and in 2017.

About half of the state’s annual rainfall and 90 percent of its flooding come from such events.

Water managers may use the forecasts to retain water they would otherwise release, resulting in a cost savings and a more reliable water supply, while preserving and enhancing flood control capabilities.

Dodd advocated for the funding along with a coalition of state water agencies, including Sonoma Water, which have been studying the phenomena of atmospheric rivers as part of their water management strategies.

In addition to engaging Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team, Sen. Dodd worked with the Legislature’s budget committees to secure the funding, along with Assemblymember Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, and others.

“This critical state funding of $9.25 million is needed to accelerate research and improved decision-making tools such as Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations, enabling water suppliers to more accurately track, monitor and respond to major storm events,” said Grant Davis, general manager of Sonoma Water.

Dodd – who formerly represented Lake County in the State Assembly – represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters on Tuesday pushed the Sand fire in Yolo County closer to full containment, with authorities reopening a closed portion of Highway 16.

Cal Fire said Tuesday evening that the Sand fire, burning since Saturday afternoon near Guinda in the Capay Valley, was up to 70 percent containment.

The fire’s updated size now stands at 2,512 acres. There has been no change in the number of structures burned, which remains at seven, none of them residences, Cal Fire said.

Resources assigned to the fire began to be dialed back on Tuesday, with total fire personnel at 694, along with 65 engines, 26 fire crews, four helicopters, eight dozers and five water tenders, according to Cal Fire’s report.

Cal Fire said fire personnel are now focusing on extinguishing hot spots.

On Tuesday at noon, Highway 16 reopened, with officials reminding travelers to be on the lookout for emergency vehicles in the area.

Cal Fire said the evacuation advisory for the County Road 41 area also was lifted on Tuesday.

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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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters on Monday progressed significantly in their efforts to contain the Sand fire in Yolo County, with officials lifting mandatory evacuation orders.

The fire, burning since Saturday afternoon near Guinda in the Capay Valley, remained at 2,220 acres by Monday evening, with containment up to 50 percent, Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said seven structures – none of them residences – have been destroyed, and the cause remains under investigation.

Eighty-two engines, 14 water tenders, 12 helicopters, 35 hand crews, 20 dozers, four air tankers and 1,116 firefighting personnel were assigned as of Monday night, Cal Fire said.

Firefighters’ efforts resulted in authorities lifting the mandatory evacuation order for the County Road 41 area as of 5 p.m. Cal Fire said the area still remained under an evacuation advisory.

Officials said Highway 16 between Rumsey and Highway 20 remains closed.

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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Northshore Fire Chief Mike Ciancio, at far left, with his four new firefighters on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. From second at left are Owen Lawler, Tylor Rial, Brett Hughes and Alex Miller. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

LUCERNE, Calif. – As fire season gets under way, Northshore Fire on Tuesday welcomed its four newest firefighters, young men starting their career with the vast fire district.

In the Tuesday afternoon’s ceremony, as district board members, staff and family members looked on, Chief Mike Ciancio presented badges to firefighter/paramedics Brett Hughes and Tylor Rial, and firefighter/EMTs Owen Lawler and Alex Miller.

Ciancio said the four new firefighters, at the start of their careers, have been with the district for about four months.

With their hires, the district – one of the largest in the state based on size, at 357 square miles – is now at full staffing, Ciancio said.

That staffing includes 19 full-time firefighters, three chief officers, two office staff, about a dozen volunteers, a 14-member support team and five-member Northshore Dive Team, he said.

Ciancio told the group that gathered at the Lucerne headquarters on Tuesday that the ceremony was part of a new swearing-in tradition.

For some of the new staff, firefighting is a family tradition.

That’s the case for Lawler, who started as a fire explorer. His father is a Cal Fire employee currently assigned to the Sand fire in neighboring Yolo County.

Rial also has a family fire background. His father, a soon-to-retire Oakland firefighter, was on hand for the ceremony.

Before administering the oath, Ciancio read the district’s mission statement.

It says: “The mission of the Northshore Fire Protection District is to protect lives, the environment, and property by providing prompt, skillful, and cost effective fire protection and life safety services.”

Ciancio said he believes that statement sums up what citizens expect of the district.

He then led the four firefighters through their oath, which was followed by their family members coming forward to pin on their new badges.

Community members interested in volunteering or otherwise helping the district can call the Lucerne’s headquarters office at 707-274-3100.

More information about the district is available at https://www.northshorefpd.com/ .

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.
Kassi Miller pins on her dad Alex Miller’s badge during his swearing-in ceremony at the Northshore Fire Protection District in Lucerne, Calif., on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
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A Santa Rosa woman’s Volkswagen Beetle went off a cliff near Bodega Bay, Calif., on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office photo.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Santa Rosa woman was rescued after her car tumbled down a 100-foot cliff north of Bodega Bay Tuesday morning.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reported that its dispatch center received a call at about 6 a.m. Tuesday regarding a vehicle over a cliff near Highway 1 and Coleman Valley Road.

The sheriff’s office said the Bodega Bay Fire Department responded to the call along with Bodega Volunteer Fire Department, Monte Rio Fire Department, the US Coast Guard, California Highway Patrol, Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies and the sheriff’s helicopter.

Firefighters from Bodega Bay Fire Department found the car, a Volkswagen Beetle, had landed on Coleman Valley Beach approximately 100 feet down the cliff from Highway 1 and had caught fire, officials said.

The driver, a 54-year-old Santa Rosa woman, jumped into the ocean after crashing the car and swam several hundred yards out to sea. A firefighter was able to swim after her and ultimately rescued her, bringing her back to the beach, according to the sheriff’s report.

A crew from the sheriff’s helicopter was able to land on the beach, provide medical attention for the woman and then flew her for a nine-minute trip to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries from the car crash, officials said.

The sheriff’s office said deputies and CHP officers investigated the collision and believed the woman intentionally drove over the cliff and attempted to end her life. When she survived the crash it’s believed she swam out in the ocean in a further attempt to end her life.

Deputies placed the woman on a mandatory mental health hold at the hospital in the hopes that she is able to get mental health treatment, authorities said.

“This was a very successful rescue and excellent coordination of resources by all agencies involved,” the sheriff’s office said in its report.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A moderate-sized earthquake was reported west of Cobb early Tuesday.

The 4.1-magnitude quake was reported at 12:46 a.m. Tuesday in Sonoma County, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was centered 5.4 miles west of Cobb, 14.2 miles north of Healdsburg and 14.5 miles southwest of Clearlake, at a depth of just under a mile, the survey reported.

By 2 a.m., more than 30 shake reports from Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties had been submitted to the US Geological Survey.

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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Wine and beer tasters had a great time in 2018 while supporting the Lake County Symphony Association in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Symphony Association’s 18th annual Lake County Home Wine and Beer Makers’ Festival is returning to Lakeport this weekend.

The festival takes place in Library Park from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 15.

This family-friendly event is a major fundraiser sponsored by volunteers of the Lake County Symphony Association.

All proceeds go to support the symphony association’s music activities, including the acclaimed Lake County Symphony and Youth Orchestra, as well as music programs, classes and scholarships.

The “Winefest” – as it has come to be called – was originated by a group of Lake County Symphony Association members who also were amateur wine and beer makers as a way to raise needed funds for the symphony.

For the past 17 years, home winemakers and brewers from all over Northern California have spent this day pouring samples for the public, and are eligible to enter their products for professional judging.

Gold, silver and bronze ribbons are awarded for a wide range of varietals, and amateurs also have a chance to win the popular “Peoples’ Choice” awards voted on by attendees. Results of the judging are announced during the festival.

The event features dozens of vendors offering arts, crafts, agricultural products and food, as well as many of Lake County’s leading commercial wineries and brewers.

There will be the always-popular silent auction and the "barrel of wine" raffle, which gives the winner a huge assortment of Lake County wines.

Since the fundraiser is all about music, wine tasters will enjoy live music from a variety of sources, including the David Neft Duo, featuring David Neft on keyboard and Steve DuBois on drums.

Commercial wineries that will be on hand to show support for the Lake County Symphony and offer tastes include Laujor, Smiling Dogs Ranch, Kaz, Rosa d’Oro, Mt. Konocti and Don Angel.

Beer lovers can look forward to samples from O’Meara’s Bros. Brewing Co. They are not eligible for prizes; these are restricted to the amateur participants.

Attendees won't be going hungry either; there will be a variety of delicious food choices that include Gabriel Martinez’s Mexican food, Villa’s Snow Cones and lumpia Filipino food from Bing’s Kitchen. Dancing Poly Farm is offering grilled lamb burgers, (topped with a garlic, feta, yogurt aioli) served with a cucumber tomato salad, in addition to other menu choices. The Yard, one of the newer Lakeport restaurants, will have sliders and hotdogs on sale.

Other food choices include Smokehouse Jerky, pre-packaged cheeses from Tres Bien Creamery, balsamic vinegar and oils from California Balsamic and honey and bee products from NBR Bees.

As has happened for the past several years, the Lakeport chapter of the Norcal Aircooled Group of auto enthusiasts will share the day and the venue with the Winefest, with some four dozen members on hand to show off their collectible cars.

This is the second year that Winefest will partner with Kelseyville’s Baconfest to offer a reduced ticket price for those who plan to attend both events over the Father’s Day weekend. Baconfest takes place on Sunday, June 16.

Admission to the Winefest is $25 per wine taster (no sharing please!) with advance purchase, or $30 at the gate, and includes a commemorative wine glass.

For advance tickets, several outlets are listed on the LCSA Web site as well as a link to Eventbrite and to the Lake County Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival Facebook page.

Children and leashed pets are welcome, although tastings are restricted to those 21 years and older.

The Konocti Mashers, local beer makers, featuring Paul Lew, Kerry Shaver and friends at the 2018 Wine And Beer Makers’ Festival in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.
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The California Highway Patrol is asking for help identifying this man, who they say is a person of interest – not a suspect – in the February 2019 murder of a Santa Clarita man on Highway 20 near Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Image courtesy of the California Highway Patrol.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California Highway Patrol investigators are continuing to follow up on leads in the February murder of a Santa Clarita man, and they’re asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest who they believe has more information about the case.

Patrick Michael Weber, 41, was found dead in his sprinter van on the morning of Feb. 21, as Lake County News has reported.

Initially, Weber had appeared to have been involved in a solo-vehicle wreck after a passing motorist reported seeing the crashed van.

Weber had been traveling eastbound when his van went off the south edge of Highway 20 about a mile west of Walker Ridge Road near mile marker 42.2.

Officer Joel Skeen said it had been apparent that Weber was in the vehicle when it crashed, because he had seat belt marks.

An autopsy conducted the same day as the crash determined that Weber had died of a gunshot wound, the CHP said.

Authorities said they found a large quantity of marijuana in the cargo area of Weber’s vehicle. The CHP previously reported that investigators contacted the California Department of Cannabis Control and determined that Weber was not legally licensed to transport marijuana.

The California Highway Patrol is asking for help identifying this man, who they say is a person of interest – not a suspect – in the February 2019 murder of a Santa Clarita man on Highway 20 near Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Image courtesy of the California Highway Patrol.

Weber’s wife told Lake County News in a February interview that her husband was involved in the cannabis industry and had gone on a trim run a few days before. They last exchanged texts the night before his death.

Now, CHP investigators have discovered a person of interest and a vehicle associated with this case and are requesting the public’s assistance with the identification of this person and the vehicle.

Officer Jake Slates, one of the CHP’s investigators working the case, told Lake County News that they obtained pictures of the male subject and the vehicle from surveillance video, some of it from within Lake County. Authorities are not disclosing the exact location of where that surveillance was located.

Slates emphasized that the man authorities are seeking is a person of interest – not a suspect.

The person of interest is described as a white male adult in his 20s or 30s, approximately 160 pounds, standing 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, the CHP said.

The CHP said the vehicle associated with the man is believed to be a late 1990s or early 2000s tan or gold Dodge Durango.

“Right now, we’ve gotten some tips from multiple people calling into the office,” said Slates.

The CHP may have a possible identification on the man, who they want to talk to about the case, Slates said.

Slates said investigators believe the man has information that could help them in their work.

This weekend, Slates was continuing to travel to follow up on leads. He said the public has been generous in offering information.

He encouraged anyone with information about the case, including the person of interest or the vehicle, to contact the CHP’s Ukiah Communications Center at 707-467-4000, 24 hours a day.

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.
This vehicle – believed to be a late 1990s or early 2000s tan or gold Dodge Durango – is associated with a man the California Highway Patrol is trying to identify, who they say is a person of interest – not a suspect – in the February 2019 murder of a Santa Clarita man on Highway 20 near Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Image courtesy of the California Highway Patrol.
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Recognizing that California’s over-65 population is projected to grow to 8.6 million by 2030, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed an executive order calling for the creation of Master Plan for Aging to be developed by Oct. 1, 2020.

The master plan will serve as a blueprint that can be used by state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote healthy aging.

“The Golden State is getting grayer and we need to be ready for the major population changes headed our way,” said Gov. Newsom. “An aging population will introduce new opportunities for economic and community growth but also drive increased health and long-term care costs. We need a plan that brings everyone to the table – local communities, labor, private sector and philanthropy – to help us understand what’s coming and guide us toward taking better care of older Californians.”

The governor’s action Monday directs the secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency to convene a cabinet-level Workgroup for Aging to advise the secretary in developing and issuing the master plan.

Additionally, the California Health and Human Services Agency, along with other state partners, will convene a Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which will include a Research Subcommittee and a Long-Term Care Subcommittee, with an interest in building an age-friendly California.

These subcommittees are expected to include older Californians, adults with disabilities, local government representatives, health care providers, health plans, employers, community-based organizations, foundations, academic researchers and organized labor.

The Long-Term Care Subcommittee is tasked with issuing a report to the Governor by March 2020 on stabilizing state long-term care programs and infrastructure, including In-Home Supportive Services, with the full Master Plan completed by October 2020.

The workgroup’s focus will go beyond just the health and human services area. The academic research is clear: underlying social factors, such as transportation and housing, have a significant impact on an individual’s health outcomes and well-being.

Additionally, the master plan will look beyond public programs and be inclusive of all older Californians. There are many older Californians that don’t utilize or have access to public programs and services the state administers and this master plan must include them too.

“I want to thank Gov. Newsom for his leadership and for making the well-being of older Californians a priority for the state,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.

“The executive order to develop a Master Plan for Aging is an important first step towards building a future where all Californians, regardless of race, economic status or level of support, can grow old safely, with dignity and independence,” said Ghaly. “Today, we begin the process of developing this Plan. In the weeks and months ahead, we will engage with our community as a whole, to learn and understand what it will take to build an age-friendly California where older Californians can flourish.”

Gov. Newsom first called for the creation of the Master Plan for Aging during his State of the State Address.

He said that “it must address: person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity.”

In the coming weeks and months, the administration will engage with stakeholders, local and county government partners and the Legislature to begin meaningful progress in establishing the Master Plan for Aging.

A copy of the executive order can be found here.

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