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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Faced with what they said were some of the toughest decisions they’ve had to consider during their tenure, members of the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board last week put off a decision to adopt the district’s fiscal year 2018-19 budget, which included proposed personnel cuts in light of a revenue shortfall.

The board held a special meeting at the district’s downtown headquarters on Tuesday, Aug. 28, the open portion of which was devoted solely to a public hearing on the final fiscal year budget.

Chief Doug Hutchison had two options for the board to present, neither one of them good.

The first, what he called a “Band-Aid measure,” would lay off one full-time firefighter and three part-time positions, while digging into district reserves.

The “black and white” option that he originally had planned to present called for deeper cuts in full-time staff, three of whom would be laid off, taking the staffing down to two personnel per shift.

Those cuts are deep for a district that has only eight full-time firefighters, in addition to the chief, plus three part-time staffers and 20-plus volunteers.

The situation is explained by looking at the budget numbers: Lakeport Fire’s 2018-19 fiscal year budget documents show a projected shortfall of $415,000 for a $2.3 million budget if only part-timers were let go and everything else stayed the same.

The stop-gap budget Hutchison presented, which includes cutting the part-time positions and one full-time position, comes in at just over $1.9 million. That’s compared to the $2.6 million that was budgeted for 2017-18, with $2.7 million actually spent, Hutchison said.

While some of the issues arise from dropping ambulance revenues, Hutchison – who became the district’s chief in 2014 – emphasized that problems have been building for years, with no one single cause but many factors.

“Sooner or later this was going to happen unless something was done,” he said.

In a written statement to Lake County News issued the day after the meeting, the Lakeport Professional Firefighters Union expressed concern at the potential for personnel cuts and what that could mean for community safety.

“After Lakeport’s professional paid and part-time firefighters received the grave news during last night’s special board meeting, the Lakeport Professional Firefighters Union would like to ensure our community knows that we have always, and will continue to remain 100-percent committed to providing the highest level of service to the community we all live in and are proud to serve. Without the adequate daily staffing levels that our operations require, a significant concern for the safety of our community and firefighters may be realized. The Lakeport Professional Firefighters Union is currently in the process of diligently working with the district to ensure that the current staffing levels we have fought for decades to maintain are preserved,” the group said in its statement.

The situation and the decision to cut staff appears all the more stark in light of the fact that, just a month ago, the entire city of Lakeport and surrounding areas were under mandatory evacuation due to the approach of the River fire, the southern arm of the Mendocino Complex, the largest wildland fire in California history. The Ranch fire portion to the north continues to burn but is expected to be fully contained by Sept. 9.

Hutchison said that the last time the district had such budget difficulties was in 2010, when it eliminated standby positions and everyone took a 10-percent pay cut.

Facing difficult choices

When the fire protection district board met last Tuesday, its meeting only lasted 16 minutes, with the board voting to table the budget in order to have a chance to meet and confer with the firefighters’ union.

What the five-member board was facing was a budget that Chief Hutchison said he and district Secretary Linda Buckner had been working to make the numbers and revenue projections balance.

Hutchison said the district had, at that point, been unable to meet and confer with the labor group representing firefighters.

“We’ve been pushing the numbers around all day,” said Hutchison, explaining he had come up with a short-term plan to get the district through until negotiations are completed.

But he cautioned it was far from perfect, and will use more of the district’s reserves than anticipated.

That short-term measure also calls for the the elimination of one full-time position now plus all three part-time positions, with future reevaluation after labor negotiations, he said.

“It’s a Band-Aid measure,” Hutchison said. “It’s the best we can do right now.”

He added, “It will affect us operationally, unfortunately.”

Board member Bill Whipple said the district had been having difficulties making ends meet since the start of the year, and in light of the budget difficulties they had been discussing taking a tax measure to district voters next year.

However, he acknowledged, “That doesn’t help us right now.”

Turning to the small audience, mostly made up of district firefighters in their navy blue uniforms, Whipple asked firefighter association members to meet with their labor representatives.

“We're supposed to adopt this now, but I don't want to,” he said, adding he wanted input from the firefighters’ union first.

Board member Randy Williams said the situation wasn’t a new subject, adding that the association was aware of it since the meet and confer last year. He said they needed to prevent similar issues in the future.

In coming up with the proposed budget, Hutchison said he and Buckner redid their revenue projections – not quite as conservatively as they normally like to do – based on last year’s income.

“It will not get us through an entire fiscal year,” he said.

Whipple asked about revenue projects compared to the previous fiscal year budget.

Hutchison said the fire tax is stagnant except for the consumer price index, property tax is up 2 percent from last year, but it’s falling ambulance revenues that are hurting them. Reimbursements for ambulance transports also have dropped dramatically, and interfacility transports are down.

Whipple asked if other fire districts are experiencing the same challenges.

Hutchison said Northshore Fire and Lake County Fire got out of doing interfacility transfers because they couldn’t make money doing it. Now only Lakeport Fire and Kelseyville Fire do them.

“It's got to be at best self-supporting,” Hutchison said, explaining that it has been viewed as something that would always be there and expenditures have been built on top of it.

Board Chair John Whitehead said he agreed with Whipple in holding off on accepting the budget, suggesting they hold off for a maximum of two weeks to do meet and confer.

“I feel the same thing,” said Board member Don Davidson, asking staff to seek an extension on the budget from the county.

From the audience, Engineer Dan Kane told the board that the association had submitted its proposed dates for meeting the previous week and hadn’t yet heard back from anyone.

Davidson moved to table the budget until the next regular meeting on Sept. 11, which the board approved.

It was the last meeting for Board member Gerry Mills, who noted, “I've been here 20 years and this is really a good department.”

He added, “We've never been in this position” of having to consider laying someone off. But he said they were getting down to the point of having to make cuts somewhere. “We appreciate any help you guys can give us,” he said to association members.

Hutchison said the county approved the district’s request for an extension on submitting its approved budget on Wednesday.

While the firefighters’ union indicated surprise in response to the budget proposals, Hutchison explained during a followup interview that last summer the district and the union had discussed the budget situation at the time of the union contract coming up.

At that time, the contract called for an automatic cost of living adjustment on July 1, 2017, of no less than 2 percent and no more than 5 percent. That put it around 3.5 percent, Hutchison said.

Hutchison said he looked at the numbers and said the district couldn’t afford it. Later, in February, the board gave union members a 3-percent raise that was not retroactive.

“They were told at this time that it’s gonna cost positions,” he said.

He said that the district also reached out to the union’s attorney on Aug. 15 and stated that absent reductions in pay or benefits, the district would have to cut positions.

The hope is that the district and union can meet by next week, as Hutchison said they have until Sept. 11 to finalize the budget.

Chief explains revenue sources, challenges

In a followup interview, Hutchison explained to Lake County News the district’s different revenue sources.

One source is ground emergency Medi-Cal transportation, or GEMT, a program which Hutchison said was set up to reimburse public ambulance providers for the loss of revenue for transporting Medi-Cal patients.

The first year Hutchison was with the district, they received a $140,000 check for the GEMT program. But that has dwindled down – to as low as $1,400 last year.

Hutchison said that Medi-Cal has moved people off of fee for service – such as the GEMT program – and more to managed care. “That’s one of those reasons you can’t count on that money and budget for it.”

There is also the intergovernmental transfer program for public ambulance providers. Hutchison said it’s much like the GEMT, in that it takes advantage of the fact there are federal dollars available for reimbursement on ambulance transports if the state puts up the money. It’s also determined through a complex formula.

“It’s just not a good, stable source of funding,” he said.

Interfacility transports play into these revenue sources, with Hutchison explaining that when you’re in the ambulance business, it comes down to the “payer mix” – or who ultimately is paying the bills.

A large portion of the people in the county and the Lakeport Fire district are on Medi-Cal, Medicare or some combination of government-funded assistance program, Hutchison said. He ventured to guess that maybe 7 percent of those transported by the district’s ambulances have private insurance.

Hutchison said Medicare pays a certain amount and, typically, Medi-Cal pays about half of what Medicare pays.

When the district can staff an ambulance, the transports pay for themselves. However, Hutchison added that if they don’t have staffing available, it becomes a matter of pulling personnel away from 911 calls.

Hutchison said that ambulance revenue accounts for about half of the district’s overall revenue, with interfacility transports about half of the ambulance revenue. In the 2016-17 year, there was about $986,000 in ambulance revenue.

Property tax, which is a more stable revenue source, can only go up about 2 percent per year. Hutchison said 23 percent of the district doesn’t pay any property tax to the district because of negotiated tax agreements.

Then there is the fire tax that’s been in effect for about 20 years, which has had no consumer price index adjustments and is determined on a complicated “unit of benefit” formula that assigns different values to different properties.

The owner of a vacant piece of land pays $10 annually for fire protection, while it would be $30 for a house, $40 for a duplex or granny unit, a base rate for hotels and motels, and another square footage formula for commercial buildings, he explained.

As an example, Hutchison said Kmart pays less than $500 per year for fire protection, while Safeway pays the same amount despite being half the size.

“Sooner or later expenses are going to outrun revenues, and that’s basically the point we’re at now,” he said.

The result is that they’ve had to cut everything they can to keep the lights on. Hutchison said they haven’t had new, apparatus not funded by grants in a long time, and some of their equipment shouldn’t be used any longer according to industry standards.

“We’re not able to put away anything for reserves,” he said.

Another challenge: The district’s headquarters station at 445 N. Main St., is housed in an 80-plus year old building which Hutchison said isn’t seismically safe and needs a new roof, which is expected to cost about $87,000.

All of these factors have led to the district’s consideration of putting a tax measure before voters next year.

Hutchison said he has advocated for a measure similar to the one passed in March 2017 by the Lake County Fire Protection District that would be a parcel tax and not use the confusing units for service formula.

The district board has been receptive. “That’s a good thing for the future,” Hutchison said, adding, “It’s not going to help us now,” with revenues not likely to be realized for at least a year if the measure were approved, at the earliest, in April or June.

The entire situation, said Hutchison, has been a long time in coming. “Now it’s finally reached the point where something has to be done.”

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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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Firefighters have stopped forward progress on a vegetation fire that began Monday afternoon near Kelseyville.

The Kelsey fire was first reported just before 2 p.m. in the 9500 block of Kelsey Creek Drive near Conklin Lane and Carder Road, according to radio reports.

Kelseyville Fire, Lakeport Fire and Cal Fire were dispatched, with Cal Fire’s response including tankers and helicopters.

The first units on scene reported that it was three to four acres with a west wind on it and one structure threatened. Due to it being near homes a deputy was requested to respond.

Just before 2:30 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued a Nixle alert ordering residents in the area to evacuate.

By 3 p.m., the sheriff’s office had followed up by issuing an advisory evacuation for one mile out from the south of intersection of Kelsey Creek Drive and Wight Way.

Minutes later, incident command reported that forward progress had been stopped on the fire, which was being held to 20 acres.

At 3:45 p.m., the sheriff’s office lifted the advisory evacuation notice but officials urged area residents to remain vigilant due to the windy conditions.

Incident command reported that there is a small spot fire on the incident’s right shoulder, with firefighters working their way around it. It was estimated to be about a quarter-acre in size.

The forward rate of progress on that spot fire was reported to have been stopped just after 4:30 p.m., according to scanner reports.

Just before 5 p.m., incident command reported the main fire was 75-percent contained, with firefighters working to address a third spot fire.

Reports from the scene stated that two engines will be kept at the scene overnight, with most of the rest of the engines expected to be released by 10 p.m.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

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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Image 20160830 28253 doourx.jpg?ixlib=rb 1.1
The first Labor Day was hardly a national holiday. Workers had to strike to celebrate it. Frank Leslie's Weekly Illustrated Newspaper's September 16, 1882
Jay L. Zagorsky, The Ohio State University

Labor Day is a U.S. national holiday held the first Monday every September. Unlike most U.S. holidays, it is a strange celebration without rituals, except for shopping and barbecuing. For most people it simply marks the last weekend of summer and the start of the school year.

The holiday’s founders in the late 1800s envisioned something very different from what the day has become. The founders were looking for two things: a means of unifying union workers and a reduction in work time.

History of Labor Day

The first Labor Day occurred in 1882 in New York City under the direction of that city’s Central Labor Union.

In the 1800s, unions covered only a small fraction of workers and were balkanized and relatively weak. The goal of organizations like the Central Labor Union and more modern-day counterparts like the AFL-CIO was to bring many small unions together to achieve a critical mass and power. The organizers of the first Labor Day were interested in creating an event that brought different types of workers together to meet each other and recognize their common interests.

However, the organizers had a large problem: No government or company recognized the first Monday in September as a day off work. The issue was solved temporarily by declaring a one-day strike in the city. All striking workers were expected to march in a parade and then eat and drink at a giant picnic afterwards.

The New York Tribune’s reporter covering the event felt the entire day was like one long political barbecue, with “rather dull speeches.”

Why was Labor Day invented?

Labor Day came about because workers felt they were spending too many hours and days on the job.

In the 1830s, manufacturing workers were putting in 70-hour weeks on average. Sixty years later, in 1890, hours of work had dropped, although the average manufacturing worker still toiled in a factory 60 hours a week.

These long working hours caused many union organizers to focus on winning a shorter eight-hour work day. They also focused on getting workers more days off, such as the Labor Day holiday, and reducing the workweek to just six days.

These early organizers clearly won since the most recent data show that the average person working in manufacturing is employed for a bit over 40 hours a week and most people work only five days a week.

Surprisingly, many politicians and business owners were actually in favor of giving workers more time off. That’s because workers who had no free time were not able to spend their wages on traveling, entertainment or dining out.

As the U.S. economy expanded beyond farming and basic manufacturing in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became important for businesses to find consumers interested in buying the products and services being produced in ever greater amounts. Shortening the work week was one way of turning the working class into the consuming class.

Common misconceptions

The common misconception is that since Labor Day is a national holiday, everyone gets the day off. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While the first Labor Day was created by striking, the idea of a special holiday for workers was easy for politicians to support. It was easy because proclaiming a holiday, like Mother’s Day, costs legislators nothing and benefits them by currying favor with voters. In 1887, Oregon, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey all declared a special legal holiday in September to celebrate workers.

Within 12 years, half the states in the country recognized Labor Day as a holiday. It became a national holiday in June 1894 when President Grover Cleveland signed the Labor Day bill into law. While most people interpreted this as recognizing the day as a national vacation, Congress’ proclamation covers only federal employees. It is up to each state to declare its own legal holidays.

Moreover, proclaiming any day an official holiday means little, as an official holiday does not require private employers and even some government agencies to give their workers the day off. Many stores are open on Labor Day. Essential government services in protection and transportation continue to function, and even less essential programs like national parks are open. Because not everyone is given time off on Labor Day, union workers as recently as the 1930s were being urged to stage one-day strikes if their employer refused to give them the day off.

In the president’s annual Labor Day declaration last year, Obama encouraged Americans “to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities that honor the contributions and resilience of working Americans.”

The proclamation, however, does not officially declare that anyone gets time off.

Controversy: Militants and founders

Today most people in the U.S. think of Labor Day as a noncontroversial holiday.

There is no family drama like at Thanksgiving, no religious issues like at Christmas. However, 100 years ago there was controversy.

The first controversy that people fought over was how militant workers should act on a day designed to honor workers. Communist, Marxist and socialist members of the trade union movement supported May 1 as an international day of demonstrations, street protests and even violence, which continues even today.

More moderate trade union members, however, advocated for a September Labor Day of parades and picnics. In the U.S., picnics, instead of street protests, won the day.

There is also dispute over who suggested the idea. The earliest history from the mid-1930s credits Peter J. McGuire, who founded the New York City Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, in 1881 with suggesting a date that would fall “nearly midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving” that “would publicly show the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations.”

Later scholarship from the early 1970s makes an excellent case that Matthew Maguire, a representative from the Machinists Union, actually was the founder of Labor Day. However, because Matthew Maguire was seen as too radical, the more moderate Peter McGuire was given the credit.

Who actually came up with the idea will likely never be known, but you can vote online here to express your view.

Have we lost the spirit of Labor Day?

Today Labor Day is no longer about trade unionists marching down the street with banners and their tools of trade. Instead, it is a confused holiday with no associated rituals.

The original holiday was meant to handle a problem of long working hours and no time off. Although the battle over these issues would seem to have been won long ago, this issue is starting to come back with a vengeance, not for manufacturing workers but for highly skilled white-collar workers, many of whom are constantly connected to work.

If you work all the time and never really take a vacation, start a new ritual that honors the original spirit of Labor Day. Give yourself the day off. Don’t go in to work. Shut off your phone, computer and other electronic devices connecting you to your daily grind. Then go to a barbecue, like the original participants did over a century ago, and celebrate having at least one day off from work during the year!The Conversation

Jay L. Zagorsky, Economist and Research Scientist, The Ohio State University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Firefighters kept a wildland blaze that began on Monday afternoon to just two dozen acres and prevented it from destroying structures.

The Kelsey fire began shortly before 2 p.m. Monday in the 9500 block of Kelsey Creek Drive near Conklin Lane and Carder Road, as Lake County News has reported.

The fire burned close to homes and led to a short-term mandatory evacuation of residences in the area.

There were no structures damaged or destroyed, incident command reported.

Late Monday, the fire remained at 75 percent containment, with units reported to be staying on scene overnight.

Incident command reported from the scene on Monday night that the main fire was mapped at 23.5 acres, with the three small spot fires that were part of the incident totaling just over an additional half acre.

There has been no report yet on the fire’s cause.

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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At left, Alberto Garcia, 33, in the blue shirt and Antonio Perez, about age 30, are wanted in connection with an attempted homicide in Lakeport, Calif., on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Lakeport Police Department.


LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is attempting to locate two men it said attempted to kill another man on Sunday evening.

Alberto Garcia, 33, and Antonio Perez, believed to be about 30 years old, are being sought in the case, police said.

The agency said that on Sunday evening officers were dispatched to a Royale Avenue address for a disturbance.

Evidence and witnesses at the scene indicated that Garcia and Perez went to the residence of the 27-year-old male victim to confront him regarding a domestic issue, police said.

A violent encounter ensued and the victim was ultimately hit in the head with a large sharp metal object and received significant injuries, according to police.

Police said one of the suspects fled the scene on foot and the other fled in a silver Ford F-150.

Officers tracked the suspects movements to another location in Lakeport but determined they had fled from there as well, police said.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing with multiple officers and agencies involved.

Police said Garcia and Perez are being sought for attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing great bodily injury. They may still be armed with a knife and considered dangerous.

If you see the suspects or vehicle, do not approach them and notify Lakeport Police or your local law enforcement agency.

Anyone with information can reach the Lakeport Police Department by phone at 707-263-5491, by sending a private message to them on Facebook or by sending an anonymous message from your cell phone by texting the words TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message to 888777.

The Ford F-150 pickup that one of the suspects in an attempted homicide in Lakeport, Calif., fled in on Sunday, September 2, 2018. The possible license plate is California 6579L1. Photo courtesy of the Lakeport Police Department.
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The Mendocino Complex as mapped on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire crews are closing in on full containment on the massive Mendocino Complex, which officials now expect will be fully contained in another week.

The complex continues to be managed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service and California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 under Incident Commander Mark von Tillow.

The U.S. Forest Service said the complex remained at 459,123 acres on Sunday, with containment up to 97 percent, the first containment increase in a few days.

The Ranch fire, which remains the complex’s active portion, is at 410,203 acres and 97-percent containment, officials said.

The River fire was contained at 48,920 acres nearly three weeks ago. The Forest Service said suppression repair on that part of the complex has been completed.

The Forest Service said the date for full containment on the complex has been moved back by eight days to Sept. 9.

Approximately 980 personnel, 27 engines, 21 hand crews, one helicopter and a dozer remain assigned to the complex, officials said.

The Forest Service said steady progress is being made in the final suppression operations of the Ranch fire, where the last section of uncontained fireline remains west of Stonyford within the forest boundary.

The remaining uncontrolled fire line, shown in red on the map above, is located around the Colusa-Glenn County border near Fouts Springs.

The weather forecast shows temperatures in the high 90s, the hottest in two weeks. While the Forest Service said fire activity will increase within the perimeter, it is not expected to challenge the fireline.

Firefighters receive the morning briefing at the Mendocino Complex Incident Command Post in Ukiah, Calif., on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.


On Sunday, the Forest Service said firefighters were monitoring interior burning, extinguishing hot spots and pulling excess hose and equipment off firelines.

Fire crews have completed 364 miles of suppression repair, primarily on the west and north sides of the fire, officials said.

In addition, about 670 miles of fireline have been identified for suppression repair, though this number is expected to increase as more repair needs are reported, the Forest Service reported.

Despite the destruction the fire has caused in public lands, there are signs that wildlife is surviving. Officials shared a picture of a buck who this past week was seen hanging out near the fire camp in Stonyford.

The fire has continued to put up large amounts of smoke and haze, which blanketed Lake County as well as the Sacramento Valley throughout the weekend.

The Forest Service said the smoke and haze are expected to continue, noting that smoke from several fires burning in Northern California is expected to drift south and east over the Sacramento Valley and toward the coast.

Stonyford and Elk Creek will have heavy smoke impacts, while areas such as Clear Lake, Potter Valley, Covelo, Ukiah and the Sacramento Valley are expected to have moderate smoke impacts with potential for spikes of heavier smoke on Sunday.

An update on smoke conditions can be found at https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/MendocinoNationalForest-SacramentoValleyArea.

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.

A buck spotted recently in the Mendocino Complex fire camp in Stonyford, Calif. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.
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The San Francisco VA Health Care System deployed a mobile van to Lucerne, Calif., in order to connect veterans impacted by the Mendocino Complex to primary care and mental health providers. The van was on scene through Monday, August 17, 2018. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Carol Brown is all too familiar with fire in Northern California.

Since the Clearlake VA Clinic opened in 2010, Brown and her 30-person staff have experienced nearly a dozen fires near the clinic that serves veterans in Lake and Mendocino counties.

So, when the devastating Mendocino Complex – which includes the River and Ranch fires – ignited on July 27, threatening thousands of Lake County residents, VA staff sprung into action.

“Sadly, we knew exactly what to do,” said Brown, the clinic’s director and a lifelong Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks resident.

The clinic, which serves close to 1,700 veterans, continued to stay open even as the complex spread, sending smoke and ash into the building. Masks and artificial tears were sent to the clinic for staff and patients. However, by Aug. 1, the air quality inside the clinic had become so poor and hazardous that a decision was made to close the clinic.

“I had staff who still came to work on that day, even though they had headaches and their eyes and throats were hurting from the smoke,” said Brown.

Despite the clinic’s closure, the San Francisco VA Health Care System staff were still able to provide health care services to veterans.

Fifteen to 20 staff members volunteered to make wellness calls to all veteran patients in the Clearlake clinic’s service area.

More than 2,000 calls were made and all veterans were reached. They were given information about where to go to get care and where to get medication refills, if needed.

Social workers from the Santa Rosa and Ukiah VA Clinics visited local area evacuation shelters to see if any veterans needed assistance. They also provided amenity kits and gift cards to displaced veterans.

Meanwhile, the Clearlake staff worked to get the clinic back in business. A cleaning company was called in on Aug. 5 to scrub the clinic clean of ash and smoke, and seven industrial air purifiers were installed to keep the air clean.

“The air quality is bad outside, but it’s good inside the clinic,” said Brown.

The clinic reopened on Aug. 6.

The San Francisco VA Health Care System deployed a mobile van to the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center in Lucerne where the local assistance center was located after the mandatory evacuations for the Northshore were lifted. The 40-foot truck is equipped with video capability that can connect veterans to primary care and mental health providers. A social worker also was on hand to answer question and assist veterans through Aug. 17.

The complex has burned 459,123 acres and is expected to be fully contained by Sept. 9. It has destroyed 280 structures – including 157 residences – and claimed the life of Utah firefighter, Battalion Chief Matt Burchett.

The River Fire, which like the Ranch fire started in neighboring Mendocino County on July 27, threatened the Ukiah VA Clinic with smoke and ash, but the clinic was able to remain open.

Staff navigated around road closures and, in some cases, endured two-hour commutes to work in order to keep the clinic open.

“I am enormously grateful for, and impressed by, the dedication and passion displayed by everyone throughout the San Francisco VA Health Care System in serving our veterans during these devastating fires,” said Bonnie Graham, the system’s director. “Many of the Clearlake staff were evacuated from their homes, but yet they still came to work to provide quality health care to our veterans.”
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Miss Lake County Scholarship Competition, which is making its return this fall after a hiatus of several years, announced that it has a new October event date and is set to hold another orientation as well as its first rehearsal this week.

The pageant originally had been scheduled for Sept. 22, but due to the Mendocino Complex, the pageant committee decided to set a new date for Oct. 20 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

The competition’s focus is to showcase the inner beauty, talent and intelligence of the young women of the Lake County community.

Contestants will will be judged on talent, evening gown, interview and an on-stage question.

There is no longer a swimsuit event attached to this competition thanks to the decision of the Miss America Pageant – the governing organization – to discontinue it beginning this year.

The new Miss Lake County will receive a $5,000 scholarship, but all contestants will qualify for some level of scholarship.

The next orientation for potential contestants will be held on Thursday, Sept. 6, in the upstairs conference room at Umpqua Bank, located 805 11th St. in Lakeport.

Anyone interested in the pageant is invited to attend and ask questions.

The first rehearsal for contestants is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8.

If you are interested in participating as a contestant, volunteer or sponsor please contact the committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters on Sunday afternoon are at a new wildland fire near Highland Springs.

The Ridge fire was first reported just after 2 p.m. in the area of Highland Springs and Old Toll Road near Lakeport.

Units responding saw a large column of smoke and began requesting air resources.

The first firefighters on scene at about 2:15 p.m. reported that the fire already was four acres with a moderate rate of spread, with the potential for 100 acres.

About 10 minutes later, the fire was reported to be 10 acres, burning in heavy brush, with a moderate to rapid rate of spread, and more resources requested.

As of 2:30 p.m., resources requested were reported to include 10 engines – four from local agencies and six from Cal Fire – four water tenders, two dozers, seven tankers and several helicopters.

Units on scene later gave the precise address of the incident as 13387 Adobe Creek Road.

At 3:15 p.m., incident command reported the fire to be 30 acres, burning in brush downhill to the east, with a west wind on it.

Retardant has been put across the right flank and across the head of the fire, with a structure about a quarter mile out in front of it, according to radio reports.

Five additional Cal Fire engines and four additional crews requested were requested at that time.

Shortly before 4 p.m., the fire was reported to be 40 acres, with the forward rate of spread slowed due to retardant.

By 4:30 p.m., the fire was reported to be holding at between 35 and 40 acres, with retardant all around it and a dozer attempting to access the most active portion of the fire.

A short time later, incident command said the fire had been mapped by a helicopter at 36 acres and was 5-percent contained.

Just after 6 p.m., the fire was reported to be holding at 36 acres, with containment up to 15 percent.

Additional updates will be posted on this page.

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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Enjoy American roots music on the banks of Cache Creek in Clearlake, Calif., on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Courtesy photo.


CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Tickets are still available for the upcoming benefit concert called “Music on the Creek,” to be held on Saturday, Sept. 8.

The concert takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Clear Lake Campground, 7805 Cache Creek Way, Clearlake.

The event is being presented by the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association and all proceeds will benefit AMIA’s work to protect and preserve Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

Featured musicians, who are all donating their time in order to benefit AMIA, include: Uncle Mike, Dave Hooper, Scott Serena and Angle of Repose, Uncorked with Don Coffin and Andi Skelton, and Humdingers, featuring Bill Bordisso and friends.

The entertainment is American roots music featuring guitar, fiddle, mandolin and vocals.

Admission to the event is $25 and only 100 tickets will be sold. All tickets must be purchased in advance and no tickets will be sold on the day of the event.

Tickets will be available at: Catfish Coffeehouse in Clearlake; Watershed Books in Lakeport and online at www.andersonmarsh.org .

Wine, beer and other refreshments will be available for purchase. The Cactus Grill will be offering tasty food at a very reasonable price.

The location is on beautiful Cache Creek at the Clear Lake Campground. Guests are asked to please bring their own lawn chairs for seating and please leave pets at home. No dogs allowed.

For more information, please email or call: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-995-2658.

Humdingers, featuring local musicians Janet Berrian and Sissa Nelson-Harris, Bill Bordisso, Bill McDougall and Doug Harris. Courtesy photo.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will honor the work of firefighters during the Mendocino Complex and consider taking a position against the proposition to repeal the gas tax that has helped the city make road repairs.

The council will meet for a closed session to discuss labor negotiations with unrepresented management and City Manager Margaret Silveira at 5:15 p.m. before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council will present a proclamation of gratitude to the Lakeport Fire Protection District for its service during the recent wildfires.

The district and Cal Fire were central to protecting the city from the River fire portion of the Mendocino Complex, which caused the city to be under a mandatory evacuation for several days at the end of July and start of August.

The council also will meet new employees Kris Perkins and Jonathan Ohlen, present a proclamation in honor of Gerald “Gerry” Mills, a longtime member of the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors, on his retirement from the board, and get an update from Sutter Lakeside Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Dan Peterson on the hospital and its response to the wildfires.

Under council business, Silveira will present to the council a proposed resolution supporting opposition to Proposition 6, “Repeal of the Road Repair and Accountability Act,” which will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Council members also will consider adopting a proposed resolution adopting a grievance procedure under the American Disabilities Act, Notice under the Act and designating the Administrative Services director as the ADA coordinator; authorizing the purchase of a John Deere 210L Skip Loader; and direct the city’s voting delegate to the League of California Cities Annual Conference to support the two resolutions provided in the annual
conference resolutions packet.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Aug. 21; the Aug. 31 warrant register; review and filing of the fiscal year 2017-18 Civil Grand Jury Report response; and adoption of the proposed amendment to the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement to add a fifth voting member selected at large by the service authority.

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.





090418 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – While weaving is an ancient and traditional craft, in the hands of dedicated and talented weavers, it’s also an art form.

Weaver extraordinaire Sheila O’Hara and her students returned to the Lake County Fair for the 10th year in a row to share and show their artwork.

On Saturday, several of the group were on hand for a demonstration using small table looms in the Little Theatre, which is the Textile and Clothing Building during the fair.

In the video O’Hara – who learned to weave as a child and holds a bachelor’s degree in weaving – and one of her students discuss their work and how their interest began.

O’Hara teaches all levels of weaving at my home studio on Tuesday afternoons and will have a booth at the upcoming Steele Wines Harvest Festival Oct. 13 and 14.

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