“A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.” – William Wordsworth

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Blue Lakes, along Highway 20 in beautiful Upper Lake, provide yet another venue for relaxing or recreating in Lake County.

The azure lakes are nestled serenely in the wild woods of Cold Creek Canyon.

Blue Lakes differ from Clear Lake in a myriad of ways.

They are not as nutrient rich as our county's namesake, nor do they contain as much of a plant population as our eutrophic Clear Lake.

The two lakes that comprise Blue Lakes are considerably smaller in size, with 135 surface acres of water here. Swimmers love it at Blue Lakes.

For the kayaker, it's an easy two-hour paddle around each lake. With a 5 mile per hour boat speed limit you will not be rattled while paddling these puddles.

Blue Lakes is another one of Lake County's fishing destinations.

Fishermen state that the best fishing occurs during the cool spring months, and that the Department of Fish and Wildlife stock the lake with 10- to 12-inch rainbow trout.

Fishing for catfish, bluegill and largemouth bass is popular as well.

The lake's tranquility draws you to peer across the silky-smooth expanse of water out to the Mayacamas Mountains' foothills that form cups for these waters.

Then, a gentle breeze changes the lake's reflections, adding dimples across its waters, bringing to mind Monet's Impressionist pond paintings, or Mary Cassatt's painting, “The Boating Party.”

According to local archaeologist Dr. John Parker, in some 1930s geology publications, “It was indicated that that there was a landslide at the north end of Blue Lakes which blocked and backed up the Clear Lake outlet channel causing the shift to the Cache Creek outlet.”

He continues, “Yes there is a landslide there ... however it is not old enough to have caused the shift in Clear Lake’s outflow. The USGS (United States Geological Survey) has determined that the landslide is several hundred years (or thousand years) more recent than the change in outflow (which occurred approximately 12,000 years ago).

“It is likely that Clear Lake flowed out the Blue Lake canyon to the Russian River several times during its 500,000 plus years lifetime. It is also likely that its outlet channel that direction flowed through the Scott’s Creek Canyon a few times (rather than Tule Lake).

“In addition to the current Cache Creek outlet (which also was probably used many times over the millennia), geologic evidence suggests that the lake flowed past Lower Lake down the canyon by Hidden Valley Lake and drained out Putah Creek a few times,” Parker said.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Though there are no confirmed or suspect cases of Ebola Virus Disease in California, on Friday the University of California Office of the President informed the California Department of Public Health that all five UC Medical Centers are positioned to provide in-patient care for Californians who have confirmed cases of Ebola if necessary.

CDPH continues working with health officials to prepare for potential cases of Ebola in California and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is providing updated, specific guidelines on the protective equipment, training and other measures that must be in place to protect workers’ health and safety.

“All of the UC Medical Centers specialize in complex care and operate as or staff level one trauma centers. We appreciate their leadership role in willingness to treat Ebola patients,” said Dr. Ron Chapman director of CDPH and state health officer. “The administration will support these hospitals in meeting this public health need in California. At the same time all hospitals and medical providers need to redouble preparedness efforts to ensure that they can effectively assess Ebola risk in their patients, while ensuring workplace safety.”

“As part of a public university, UC’s medical centers are far along in their preparation activities and are willing to care for confirmed Ebola patients,” said Dr. John Stobo, UC senior vice president for health sciences and services. “Stepping up to a public health crisis is what these medical centers do, and in the past weeks we have been actively readying ourselves for any health eventuality related to Ebola. We are committed to addressing the health needs of this population and the public at large, as well as ensuring the safety of our health care workers. It is our intent that only health care workers who are members of a core designated group or who volunteer to do so will provide care to confirmed Ebola patients.”

The UC Medical Centers identified today include the Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco facilities. 

These hospitals will closely coordinate with CDPH and local health officers as they consider taking on such patients.

Friday's announcement means that the UC Medical Centers are positioned to accept patients in California with confirmed cases of Ebola.

They are not identified as treatment centers for patients being transported into the United States by the U.S. State Department.

Four hospitals in other parts of the country are already established as treatment centers for these repatriated U.S. citizens.

CDPH has been reviewing Ebola preparedness, screening and treatment guidance from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will ensure that the UC Medical Centers have the most up-to-date information on how to treat and care for Ebola patients, should confirmed Ebola cases appear in California.

The UC Medical Centers, like all health care facilities in California, are required to comply with standards set by Cal/OSHA to ensure that appropriate protective equipment, training and other measures are in place to protect worker health and safety while caring for Ebola patients. Cal/OSHA is developing updated guidance and compliance requirements specifically identifying what measures are adequate – and inadequate – to comply with California’s workplace health and safety legal requirement, based on CDC’s recent strengthening of clinical guidance for Ebola treatment.

Cal/OSHA also will provide on-site consultation for these medical centers to help them meet the established occupational health and safety standards.

CDPH has also committed to helping the five identified medical centers obtain the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), should the hospitals have sourcing challenges. CDC recently updated the PPE guidance, aligning them with California’s stronger standards.

State officials also will work with these medical centers to ensure that medical waste generated from the treatment of an Ebola patient will be properly handled and disposed.

All hospitals throughout the state are expected to screen, identify and isolate any patients with Ebola risk.

Screening questions include:  “Has the patient recently been in one of the three countries with Ebola outbreaks: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea?”; and “Has the patient been in direct contact with someone known to have Ebola or someone exposed to Ebola?”

If further testing of the patient is recommended, the hospital will contact the local health department, which will provide a more detailed epidemiological assessment.

If necessary, the local health officer will then coordinate with CDPH and CDC to pursue testing at CDC-approved laboratories. During that time, the patient should remain in isolation until the test results are available.

If test results are positive, CDPH will work with the hospital, local health officers and the CDC to transfer the patient as needed.

CDPH remains in contact with hospitals and health care professionals throughout the state to monitor and strengthen medical preparedness and Cal/OSHA will be working with hospitals to provide compliance assistance on required workplace safety standards. Other hospitals will likely be identified as additional priority hospitals for Ebola treatment.

Since the Ebola outbreak began in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, CDPH has worked with state, federal and local health officials to prepare for potential cases of Ebola in California.

In August, CDPH launched an informational Web site compiling information about the outbreak and preparing California health care providers with guidance and protocols from the CDC. CDPH has developed an interim case report form for reporting suspected cases of Ebola to CDPH and has distributed CDC guidance on specimen collection, transport, testing and submission for patients suspected of having Ebola.

Last week, CDPH posted interim guidelines for Ebola medical waste management and recommended that all health care facility environmental services personnel and infection control staff work together to develop facility-specific protocols for safe handling of Ebola related medical waste.

CDPH has provided these and other documents to health care providers and partners via the California Health Alert Network.

In September, CDPH convened more than 1,100 health care and public health workers to urge them to assess their Ebola readiness and conduct drills in their facilities.

Last week, CDPH officials held a teleconference with health care providers to discuss the latest news and guidance about handling suspected Ebola cases.

CDPH is providing weekly updates to local health officials, first responders and health care providers as the Ebola outbreak continues in West Africa.

In addition, CDPH launched a telephone hotline call center to respond to public inquiries related to Ebola. Earlier this week, Gov. Brown joined officials from the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), CDPH, Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and Cal/OSHA to meet with California hospital leaders, nurses, emergency responders, local health directors and medical providers.

CDPH is also available to provide consultation about suspect Ebola cases to local health departments and health care providers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It joins with a team of state departments and agencies including CHHS, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) and DIR, to address all aspects of preparedness for a potential Ebola case in California.

For more information about how the state is preparing for potential cases of Ebola, please read CDPH's Ebola Virus Disease FAQs, which can be found at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/DEFAULT.aspx , and visit the CDPH Ebola Virus Information Page, http://cdph.ca.gov/programs/cder/Pages/Ebola.aspx , and the Cal/OSHA Ebola Virus Information site, http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/EbolaVirusInformation.htm .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A panel of government leaders and scientists discussed Clear Lake, the threats to the lake's health and the solutions that Measure S would help fund at a forum on Wednesday in Lakeport.

The Measure S information summit, held at the Soper Reese Theatre, was hosted by the Save the Lake Committee and moderated by Lake County News Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson.

Panelists included District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington; District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing; Sarah Ryan, environmental director for Big Valley Rancheria; retired wildlife biologist Jim Steele; and Dr. Harry Lyons, professor of biology and ecology at the Yuba College Clear Lake Campus.

Measure S is a half-cent sales tax measure on the Nov. 4 ballot.

It would fund a variety of water quality projects over a 10-year period.

As a specific tax – which means the revenues generated could not be placed in the county general fund but would be dedicated specifically to the purposes listed in the ballot measure – it must pass by a supermajority, or two-thirds, vote.

The two-and-a-half-hour forum can be seen in its entirety above.

Following are highlights and notations of what times they appear in the video:

– Supervisor Anthony Farrington: Welcome, opening remarks and Measure S overview (2:20).

– Jim Steele, retired biologist: Slide presentation on Clear Lake ecology (25:34).

– Supervisor Denise Rushing: Lake health – human impacts and influence (43:34).

– Sarah Ryan, environmental director, Big Valley Rancheria: Water policy, priorities and processes (55:48).

– Dr. Harry Lyons, professor of biology, Yuba College Clear Lake campus: Summary, Clear Lake's future (1:18:35).

– Question and answer session (1:32:50).

– Panelist summation (2:13:17).

For more information about Measure S visit www.savethelake.info .

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several new dogs from various breeds needing homes this week.

Dogs available this week include mixes of Chihuahua, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, mastiff, pit bull terrier and Rottweiler.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets 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 dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

'Mickey'

“Mickey” is a male Chihuahua mix with a short buff-colored coat.

He is in kennel No. 7, ID No. 1029.

Male mastiff

This male mastiff has a short brown coat with white markings.

He is in kennel No. 14, ID No. 1030.

Male Rottweiler mix

This male Rottweiler mix is a young dog.

Shelter staff said he is still a puppy. He needs some training and would make a great dog.

Find him in kennel No. 12, ID No. 1032.

German Shepherd

This male German Shepherd needs a loving home.

He is very energetic and would do best with an active family and a large yard to run and play.

While he has some training, shelter staff said he would benefit from more training in obedience and basic manners. He is said to be good with all nondominant dogs.

He's in kennel No. 24, ID No. 975.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix has a short black and tan coat.

He's in kennel No. 26, ID No. 26, ID No. 1079.

'Appa'

“Appa” is a male Irish Setter mix.

He has a medium-length reddish-brown coat.

Find him in kennel No. 27, ID No. 1078.

Male shepherd

This male shepherd has a short buff-colored coat.

He's in kennel No. 28, ID No. 1035.

'Otis'

“Otis” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short brown coat with white markings.

Find him in kennel No. 29, ID No. 1077.

Male Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.

He's good with other dogs prefers and prefers to be around other males.

Shelter staff said he has a mellow energy level. He appears to have been an outside dog and is a bit jumpy about being indoors, but will adjust well if given the chance.

He's in kennel No. 34, ID No. 779.

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.

Will your pets be taken care of if you became ill or if you – and your spouse – died?

Ensuring that beloved animals are properly taken care of is an important estate planning goal for many people.

The options that exist employ the following approaches: pet trusts and powers of attorney; a trusted friend; animal care organizations. Let’s examine each option.

First, the most common approach is to gift one’s beloved animal to a trusted friend or family member, usually with an accompanying gift of money, in one’s will or trust, as relevant.

Before relying on this approach it is necessary to have a discussion with the chosen person to ask whether they are willing and able to provide a stable and loving home to your pets.

Will they really earmark any money you leave them to take care of your pets? Will they treat your pets the way you want them to be treated?

Will they continue to have a home that can accommodate your pets or will they move and be unable to provide for your pets? If these questions are not answered affirmatively then you may wish to consider an alternative.

Second, another common approach, mostly limited to household cats and dogs, however, is to place the animal with an animal protection organization or no-kill humane shelter, which find suitable homes for pets. Many such organizations exist across California and can be found and researched on the Internet.

Once an organization is selected and the pets enrolled in the program a donation of money is either requested or required.

Third, for those not satisfied with the foregoing options, pet trusts give greater protection and flexibility to provide for the well-being of companion animals, when the owner dies.

This is particularly useful for hard to place animals. Such pet trusts prevent the neglect and abandonment of companion animals after the owner’s death.

Pet trusts and instructions for the care of animals become part of your revocable living trust and durable power of attorney.

If you are disabled your trustee and agent can use your assets to care for your companion animals. The pet trust is formally established as its own separate trust when you die.

A pet trust allows you to give the pet and assets to a trustee who manages and distributes the money for the pets’ benefit according to instructions regarding how the money is to be used to care for the health, care and routine of the pets.

Unless authorized in the pet trust itself, the trustee cannot utilize the assets for anyone other than the companion animals.

The trustee supervises and pays any caregiver who looks-after the animals; the two can be the same person. If so, then you may wish to have a “trust protector” to enforce the terms of the trust.

Should the trustee fail to perform, a trust protector can replace a nonperforming trustee.

When the animal dies, the pet trust terminates and assets are distributed to other designated beneficiaries.

Obviously naming the trustee as the remainder beneficiary creates a real conflict of interest and is ill-advised. You may choose to name a charitable organization that cares for animals as the beneficiary.

Pet owners concerned about caring for their pets in the event they become disabled and when they die should include this within their estate planning goals.

Even if a pet trust is not used, the power of attorney and the living trust, when used, should provide for the care and placement of the animals.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney (LL.M. tax studies), is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, California. Fordham can be reached by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 707-263-3235. Visit his Web site at www.dennisfordhamlaw.com .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake Police investigation this week linked a man arrested on drug charges to local burglary cases.

Clearlake resident Alejandro Zuniga, 33, is believed to be the suspect in the burglaries, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

On Monday morning witnesses called to report that Zuniga was exhibiting odd behavior in the 4200 block of Old Highway 53, Joseph said.

Clearlake Police Officer Trevor Franklin responded to the area, and Joseph said Franklin subsequently arrested Zuniga at around 9 a.m. that day for possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.

Joseph said Zuniga had a duffel bag with him at the time of his arrest which contained archery equipment, a surveillance video camera and a chainsaw.

Police determined that the video surveillance camera in Zuniga’s duffel bag had been stolen from Cheaper Cigarettes, located at 14962 Lakeshore Drive, only a few hours earlier, Joseph said.

Officers watched the surveillance video of the crime and were able to positively identify Zuniga as the suspect in the theft. Joseph said Zuniga additionally was charged with theft, possession of stolen property and vandalism. 

It is believed that the archery equipment and the chainsaw also are likely stolen items, Joseph added.

Zuniga was transported to the Lake County Jail and booked. While at the jail, Clearlake Police Officer Joseph Myers interviewed Zuniga regarding a residential burglary which was reported to the Clearlake Police Department on October 10, Joseph said. That residential burglary occurred in the 14500 block of Palmer Avenue.

Joseph said Zuniga was a person of interest in this residential burglary, but had not been identified as a suspect.

However, during the interview, Zuniga made incriminating statements linking him to the burglary. Joseph said the case will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for filing of additional charges on Zuniga.

On Oct. 22, a concerned citizen and business owner turned over some property to the police department which had been found abandoned in the 3700 block of Laddell Avenue, Joseph said.

The property includes a portable DVD player, a portable speaker system, a small MP3 player and a small old sickle, a hand tool for cutting grass. Joseph said police obtained information linking Zuniga to this lot of found property as well.

Joseph said none of this found property is reported to be stolen but it is also believed to be.

Anyone with information on any of the listed property – archery equipment, chainsaw, MP3 player, portable speaker system, DVD player or hand tool – is asked to contact Evidence Technician Nicki Burrell at 707-994-8251, Extension 308.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office said registered voters who want to request a vote-by-mail, or absentee, ballot for the Nov. 4 election have until early next week to do so.

Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley said the deadline to make the request by mail, phone or fax is Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 29, and continuing until 8 p.m. on Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 4 – voters who would like a vote-by-mail ballot must appear in person at the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office to apply for and obtain a ballot.

The Registrar of Voters Office is located in Room 209 on the second floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Astronomers have used the APEX telescope to probe a huge galaxy cluster that is forming in the early universe and revealed that much of the star formation taking place is not only hidden by dust, but also occurring in unexpected places.

This is the first time that a full census of the star formation in such an object has been possible.

Galaxy clusters are the largest objects in the universe held together by gravity but their formation is not well understood.

The Spiderweb Galaxy (formally known as MRC 1138-262) and its surroundings have been studied for twenty years, using ESO and other telescopes, and is thought to be one of the best examples of a protocluster in the process of assembly, more than ten billion years ago.

But Helmut Dannerbauer of the University of Vienna, Austria and his team strongly suspected that the story was far from complete.

They wanted to probe the dark side of star formation and find out how much of the star formation taking place in the Spiderweb Galaxy cluster was hidden from view behind dust.

The team used the LABOCA camera on the APEX telescope in Chile to make 40 hours of observations of the Spiderweb Cluster at millimetre wavelengths — wavelengths of light that are long enough to peer right through most of the thick dust clouds. LABOCA has a wide field and is the perfect instrument for this survey.

“This is one of the deepest observations ever made with APEX and pushes the technology to its limits — as well as the endurance of the staff working at the high-altitude APEX site, 5050 metres above sea level,” said Carlos De Breuck, APEX project scientist at ESO, and a co-author of the new study.

The APEX observations revealed that there were about four times as many sources detected in the area of the Spiderweb compared to the surrounding sky.

And by carefully comparing the new data with complementary observations made at different wavelengths they were able to confirm that many of these sources were at the same distance as the galaxy cluster itself and must be parts of the forming cluster.

“The new APEX observations add the final piece needed to create a complete census of all inhabitants of this mega star city. These galaxies are in the process of formation so, rather like a construction site on Earth, they are very dusty,” said Dannerbauer.

But a surprise awaited the team when they looked at where the newly detected star formation was taking place.

They were expecting to find this star formation region on the large filaments connecting galaxies.

Instead, they found it concentrated mostly in a single region, and that region is not even centred on the central Spiderweb Galaxy in the protocluster.

Dannerbauer concluded, “We aimed to find the hidden star formation in the Spiderweb cluster – and succeeded – but we unearthed a new mystery in the process; it was not where we expected! The mega city is developing asymmetrically.”

To continue the story further observations are needed – and ALMA will be the perfect instrument to take the next steps and study these dusty regions in far greater detail.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – An Upper Lake man was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence after he hit and seriously injured a woman riding a bicycle.

George Carl Allen, 60, was placed under arrest after the crash, which occurred just before 7:30 a.m. on Elk Mountain Road north of Middle Creek Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Leah Emma Solon, 50, of Upper Lake sustained major injuries due to the crash, the CHP said.

The CHP reported that Allen was driving a 1986 Kenworth water tanker truck northbound on Elk Mountain Road.

Solon also was riding northbound on her bicycle on Elk Mountain Road, and as Allen passed her, his truck struck her bike, knocking her to the ground, the CHP said.

Solon, who the CHP said was not wearing a helmet, was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

The CHP issued a reminder to motorists to share the road with bicyclists. In September a law went into effect establishing a required three-foot distance between cars and bikes in California.

The agency also reminded bicyclists to wear their helmets.

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 county of Lake reported Friday that abatement of unauthorized marijuana cultivation is continuing in neighborhoods around Lake County.

In a Friday statement, the county of Lake said there continues to be miscommunication as to the nature and scope of the preliminary injunction recently issued by a federal court and the effect of that injunction on Measure N.

Measure N was passed by voters in June. It bans marijuana grows in neighborhoods, sets plant limits on larger parcels and also governs the size of indoor grows.

Although a federal judge in San Francisco earlier this month granted a preliminary injunction as to nonemergency summary abatements action under Measure N, joint efforts between the Lake County Community Development Department and the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force to abate unauthorized marijuana cultivation have been able to continue successfully, officials said.

The Community Development Department has primarily focused its abatement attention on neighborhood grows to increase public safety in populated community areas, the county reported.

Officials said there also has been concern during this historic California drought about water theft and overusage in neighborhoods, particularly as wells and water systems are going dry in the county.

Illegal marijuana grows have the potential to consume large amounts of water that do not fit into current rationing guidelines, and threaten the water availability to other residents.

As a result of Measure N, which went into effect on July 11, more than 2,500 marijuana plants have been abated from 80 residential sites within neighborhoods, the county reported.

The average plant count is approximately 32 in the residential neighborhood grows which have been abated this summer, according to the Friday report.

Additionally, officials reported that the Sheriff’s Narcotic Task Force has eradicated approximately 194,000 marijuana plants to date this year on rural properties through criminal cases and the Measure N joint enforcement efforts.

Under the nonsummary abatement clause in Measure N, the Community Development Department responds to anonymous complaints by posting a “Notice to Abate Unlawful Marijuana Cultivation” at the grow site.  

The resident of the property has five business days to comply with voluntary abatement. If there is no voluntary compliance, the Community Development Department will secure an abatement warrant for the property. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will then carry out the abatement.

Neighbors and residents can protect their privacy and place anonymous complaints about illegal marijuana grows in their neighborhood by contacting the Lake County Community Development department at 707-263-2382 or by using the online complaint form located at  http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Code_Enforcement.htm .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A recent series of burglaries and vandalism at the Clearlake People Services facility has cost the nonprofit hundreds of dollars in lost equipment and repairs.

The People Services location at 14560 Lakeshore Drive – also known as Konocti Instructional Services – works with adults with developmental disabilities, said Director Martin Diesman.

“Our essential purpose here is helping them be successful in doing all of the things that the rest of us take for granted,” which includes everything from learning to button shirts and tie shoes to vocational training, Diesman explained.

People Services seeks to help its clients manage their lives as independently as they can, according to Diesman.

That includes giving them paying jobs – from working on vending and landscape crews, to positions in the People Services thrift store at the Lakeshore Drive location, he said.

Diesman said People Service clients also do important volunteer work, including assisting with Meals on Wheels deliveries by accompanying drivers, “which is a really cool thing.”

Yet, despite its good works in the community, the nonprofit has found its facilities targeted repeatedly over the years.

Diesman estimated that in the last two years, property crimes such as burglary and vandalism have occurred 12 times at the Clearlake location.

“It's just been relentless here,” he said.

In one instance, a man stole the facility's security cameras. The facility's chain link fence also has been cut repeatedly, Diesman said.

“We’ve tried repairing the fence but they just cut it again,” he said. “We can’t keep up with it.”

The tally of crimes committed against People Services includes a new rash of incidents that Diesman said began amping up around three weeks and continued this week.

In the first incident, someone broke into the nonprofit's outdoor sheds and stole janitorial supplies like cleaning solution, paper towels and mop heads – “just stupid stuff,” said Diesman.

The second burglary involved someone breaking into the services boxes on the People Services landscaping truck. Diesman said about $600 worth of landscaping tools were stolen.

Items taken included vests, goggles, bungee cords, safety glasses, work gloves, garbage picker uppers, a set of loppers, four pairs of short pruners, a branch saw, weed pullers and other hand tools, like crescent wrenches and screw drivers, he said.

“We’re lucky that’s all they got,” Diesman said.

Then, sometime late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, someone vandalized a People Services van, slashing a rubber part on the wheelchair access side door in what Diesman said appeared to be an effort to get into the vehicle.

Diesman said the repeated thefts, and the need to replace the stolen items, has ended up costing the nonprofit a lot of money.

“It’s a pretty sad situation,” he said. “There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Diesman said the Clearlake Police Department has been out twice to take fingerprints from the sheds and truck that were broken into during this latest round of burglaries.

Clearlake Police Det. Nick Bennett confirmed to Lake County News that police are investigating the break-ins.

Police also are focusing on a possible suspect, Bennett said.

Bennett added, “We do have extra patrols in the area.”

Diesman said the situation has been frustrating for People Services, and both “really harmful” and sad.

“They’re stealing from the disabled. They’ve got so little,” he said.

A People Services staffer posted about the thefts on social media, which led to a $100 donation on Thursday morning, Diesman said.

Diesman said the nonprofit is grateful for any help the community is willing to offer.

To help People Services by donating cash or tools, or for more information contact Diesman at 707-994-1560.

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.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has established an Ebola hotline call center to respond to public inquiries related to Ebola.

“This hotline has been set up and staffed to answer questions from those concerned about the possibility of Ebola in California,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH director and state health officer. “Our goal is to be available to eliminate the mystery of this disease and offer the facts to Californians as the situation evolves. This is one in a series of steps we have taken in the last few months.”

The hotline, 855-421-5921 will be in operation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in California and no suspect cases.

Since the Ebola outbreak began in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, CDPH has worked with state, federal and local health officials to prepare for potential cases of Ebola in California.

In August, CDPH launched an informational Web site compiling information about the outbreak and preparing California health care providers with guidance and protocols from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDPH has developed an interim case report form for reporting suspected cases of Ebola to CDPH and has distributed CDC guidance on specimen collection, transport, testing and submission for patients suspected of having Ebola.

Last week, CDPH posted interim guidelines for Ebola medical waste management and recommended that all health care facility environmental services personnel and infection control staff work together to develop facility-specific protocols for safe handling of Ebola related medical waste.

CDPH has provided these and other documents to health care providers and partners via the California Health Alert Network (CAHAN).

In September, CDPH convened more 1,100 health care and public health workers to urge them to assess their Ebola readiness and conduct drills in their facilities.

Last week, CDPH officials held a teleconference with health care providers to discuss the latest news and guidance about handling suspected Ebola cases.

CDPH is providing weekly updates to local health officials, first responders and health care providers as the Ebola outbreak continues in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The agency joins with a team of state departments and agencies including California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) and the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), to
address all aspects of preparedness for a potential Ebola case in California.

CDPH is also available to provide consultation about suspect Ebola cases to local health departments and health care providers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information about how the state is preparing for potential cases of Ebola, visit the CDPH Ebola Virus Information Page at http://cdph.ca.gov/programs/cder/Pages/Ebola.aspx and the Cal/OSHA Ebola Virus Information site, http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/EbolaVirusInformation.htm .