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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting of two men – one of whom died – on Monday afternoon on Highway 101 near Willits.

Just before 4:45 p.m. Monday deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to a suspicious situation in the area of Mile Post Marker 35 on north Highway 101 south of Golden Rule, according to Capt. Gregory Van Patten.

Van Patten said initial reports suggested a vehicle had been involved in a traffic collision and that an occupant was suffering from a gunshot wound.

Law enforcement personnel arrived and located a 2001 maroon Chevrolet Silverado four-door pickup truck stopped in the southbound traffic lanes of north Highway 101, Van Patten said.

Inside the pickup truck were two adult male occupants suffering from obvious gunshot wounds; Van Patten said it had not been determined how many times they had been shot.

One occupant was determined to be deceased and the other occupant suffered from a life-threatening injury requiring him to be transported to an out-of-county hospital for medical treatment, according to Van Patten.

Van Patten said Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives were summoned to the scene and have assumed investigative jurisdiction into the incident with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Justice and Mendocino County District Attorney's Office.

The CHP said Highway 101 was closed from shortly before 5:30 p.m. Monday until just after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday because of the incident.

Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives are actively conducting investigations and more information will be released at a later date by press release as information becomes available, Van Patten said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting incident or the pickup truck prior to or after the shooting is urged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.
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The County fire as of the morning of Monday, July 2, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday acreage went up on both the Pawnee fire in Lake County and the County fire in neighboring counties to the southeast, with conditions allowing for officials to reopen a stretch of Highway 20 that the Pawnee fire had threatened.

Cal Fire said the County fire in Yolo and Napa counties was up to 44,500 acres and 3 percent containment on Monday morning, while the Pawnee had edged up by a few hundred acres to 14,700 acres, with containment up to 75 percent.

The region’s big fire, the County, began on Saturday, and continues to burn aggressively in Yolo and Napa counties.

It’s threatening 116 structures and has led to mandatory and advisory evacuation orders in a number of areas in Yolo County, including Berryessa Knoxville Road, from the Pope Creek Bridge to the Napa/Lake County line.

Cal Fire said firefighters worked throughout the night to establish control lines, with the fire burning actively and running up steep terrain. The fire is burning in tall grass, brush and dense oak, and extreme fire behavior is still occurring.

The Pawnee fire, burning since June 23 northeast of Clearlake Oaks, continues to threaten 50 homes in the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision off of Highway 20, Cal Fire said.

On Monday the subdivision remained under evacuation order, while the Lake County Sheriff’s Office lifted an advisory for the areas between Highway 20 and Morgan Valley Road and from Sky High Ridge Road, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said ground resources worked throughout the night to reinforce control lines and extinguish interior hotspots on the Pawnee fire.

Monday’s hot and dry weather conditions raise the potential for more growth on the Pawnee fire, and Cal Fire said multiple ground resources and air assets are available in the area to take quick action if the need arises.

A key development on Monday morning was the reopening of Highway 20, which has been closed between Highway 53 and Williams.

The closure began Saturday evening, following the flare up on the Pawnee fire which threatened the highway.

Cal Fire estimates the Pawnee fire will be fully contained on July 5, while the County fire’s full containment is expected on July 10.

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 Pawnee fire as of the morning of Monday, July 2, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.

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Storytime for children takes place at Library Park on Friday mornings during the summer. Pictured here is the program on Friday, June 29, 2018, when the children heard July 4 stories and then enjoyed a snack and a demonstration of how to make huge bubbles by a favorite volunteer, Eduardo. Photo courtesy of the Friends of the Library.


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Friends of the Library donated $3,300 to the Lake County Library for the expenses involved with its popular Summer Reading Program.

Many Lake County adults have fond memories of participating in Summer Reading as children or as parents of now grown children.

Children still present their reading logs, along with the library books they have read, and receive stickers to mark their reading progress.

This wonderful program keeps reading skills from getting rusty over the summer and provides the children with the opportunity to read for pleasure as they can choose a pile of books that look interesting to them at each library visit.

At the end of the program, a party is held with refreshments, awards and all kinds of fun.

For those participants who finish the program, a new book is donated for the children’s collection by the Friends. It has a book plate bearing the child’s name in honor of their reading achievement. And that child gets to be the first one to check out the book.

There is still time to sign up for Summer Reading at any of the library branches. At last count, 449 children had signed up.

A special part of Summer Reading for the younger ones is that Lakeport’s weekly storytime is transported to Library Park, along with the books, snacks and special activities.

Each Friday morning at 10:15 a.m., in the shade of the big trees with a breeze coming in from the lake, children, with their adult, gather on a huge parachute and enjoy the stories read by Miss Barbara.

Weekly storytimes are held at each of the library branches throughout the summer. Check the library Web site for days and times or call your local branch.

Summer Reading is not just for children. There is a program for teens and one for adults as well.

Teens can sign up at any branch and there are weekly programs held at the Lakeport branch that involve crafts, games and interesting speakers.

Their reading earns them raffle tickets for the grand prize drawing at the end of the program. A book for the young adult collection is donated by the Friends for each teen who finishes the program. As with the children’s program, it has a commemorative book plate and first check-out rights.

Adults can enjoy challenging themselves to read more over the summer too. Sign up at any branch and earn raffle tickets for a basket brimming with good books. A book for the adult collection is donated by the Friends with a commemorative book plate and the opportunity to be the first to check it out.

The Friends of the Library is a 401(c)3 organization that provides funding for programs that are beyond the Library’s budget, such as the supplies and prize books for Summer Reading.

The money is earned by the sale of quality used books donated by the community, memberships and tax-deductible donations.

The Friends meet the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Lakeport Library. While all are warmly welcomed, attendance at meetings is not a requirement of membership.

Membership applications are available at each library branch.

For more information, visit www.friendsofthelakecountylibrary.org.
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Tens of thousands of young people seeking renewals through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, have been approved, according to a publication of the latest quarterly report on renewals the federal government is required to file as part of the preliminary injunction that California secured in January to preserve DACA.

"While the Trump Administration keeps trying to crush our Dreamers’ ability to stay here, we continue to fight to defend their rights,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “We are proud to announce that our success in the courtroom has led to even more of our colleagues, classmates, and family members being able to renew their DACA authorization, allowing them to remain here and work legally. In addition to the 30,000 Dreamers whose applications were renewed earlier this year, at least 45,000 additional Dreamers have renewed their DACA authorization since April and can continue making meaningful contributions in California and beyond.”

By court order, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services are required to report quarterly data on the number of DACA applications that have been renewed or await a pending decision as a result of the nationwide preliminary injunction Attorney General Becerra secured in January.

The federal government’s updated statistics revealed that at least 45,000 more Dreamers have been able to renew their deferred action and work authorization under DACA, securing two more years of protection.

These renewals are in addition to the 30,000 announced by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in their first report in April, for a grand total of 77,190 renewals approved since Jan. 10, 2018.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. -- Highway 20, which had been closed due to the Pawnee fire, reopened today at shortly after eleven a.m. with no restrictions according to Lupe Navarro of Caltrans.

Firefighters continue to battle the Pawnee fire which was last reported by Cal Fire to be 14,700 acres and containment has increased to 75%.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for the Double Eagle subdivision which is located East of Clearlake Oaks on Hwy 20.

Evacuation advisories are in effect for the area between Highway 20 and Morgan Valley Road and from Sky High Ridge Road and the county line.

The evacuation center for the Pawnee fire is located at Lower Lake High School 9430 Lake Street, Lower Lake, CA 95457

070118 Pawnee fire incident map by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Gate fees at the Eastlake Landfill are increasing beginning this month to offset the costs of landfill operations and compliance regulations, according to the Lake County Public Services Department.

Effective July 2, the tonnage rates will be $59.33 per ton. Volume rates for loads up to three cubic yards will be $10 per cubic yard.

The minimum gate fee will be $10 with the exception of a single bag less than 96-gallons which will be $5 per bag. Other material-specific charges have changed, such as mattresses, couches and chairs.

Even with the approved increase, the Eastlake Landfill will have considerably lower rates than most surrounding landfills, county officials said.

The increased landfill rates will have an impact on curbside residential and commercial customers in Lake County.

Beginning in July residential customers can expect to see an increase in their billing statement for the pass-through cost of solid waste disposal at the Eastlake Landfill, Public Services reported.

More information on County franchise haulers, programs and recycling opportunities can be found on the county’s recycling Website at www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us.

Questions also can be directed to the Lake County Public Services Department at 707-262-1618.
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The Pawnee fire as of the morning of Monday, July 2, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Pawnee fire continued to threaten a subdivision on Monday, but officials said fire growth was held to a minimum thanks to better weather conditions.

The fire, burning since June 23 northeast of Clearlake Oaks, reached 14,800 acres on Monday evening, an increase of 100 acres over the day, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire’s latest report said the fire’s containment remained at 75 percent. It’s still expected to be fully contained by Thursday.

With 50 structures still threatened, the mandatory evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks remained in effect Monday night, officials said.

Cal Fire said the Pawnee fire’s behavior diminished on Monday due to weather conditions that allowed direct line construction.

The agency said crews hope to take advantage of the decreased temperatures and higher humidity.

A substantial firefighting force consisting of 2,186 personnel, 114 engines, 30 water tenders, nine helicopters, 49 hand crews and 32 dozers remains at work on the incident, Cal Fire 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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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Independence Day holiday in Clearlake means a parade, street faire, fireworks – and worm racing.

On Saturday the Lakeshore Lions Club hosted the 61st annual Redbud Parade & Festival.

A highlight of the day was the 51st annual Clearlake International Worm Races.

In the videos posted here, follow the worm racing action and highlights of the day’s fun.



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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A midweek Independence Day holiday may result in less travel, but the California Highway Patrol will still be working to keep the roadways safe during its maximum enforcement period, or MEP.

The CHP’s MEP will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, and conclude at midnight on Wednesday, July 4.

Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs.

“Do not let a day of festivities turn into a day of tragedy. If you drive impaired, you risk your life and the lives of others on the road,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Motorists will help make everyone’s holiday safer by driving sober, fastening their seat belts, and avoiding distractions.”

Impaired driving does not just mean alcohol. It is also illegal to drive while impaired by drugs, regardless if they are legal or illegal. If you are going out and plan to drink, designate a sober driver or have an alternate transportation plan.

If you are hosting an event, have plenty of nonalcoholic beverages on hand. July 4 gatherings often extend into the evening, as people wait for fireworks.

Stop serving alcohol well before the end of your party. If any of your guests become impaired, take their keys and call them a cab or ride-share, or give them a ride home.

During the Independence Day MEP in 2017, which was four days, 47 people were killed in collisions on California roads.

Within CHP jurisdiction, more than half the vehicle occupants who died were not wearing seat belts.

The CHP also made 1,244 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during last year’s Independence Day MEP.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The County fire continued to scorch large swaths of acreage on Monday, and its growth has caused hundreds more structures to now be threatened.

By Monday evening the fire had ballooned to 60,000 acres – an increase of 15,500 acres during the course of the day – with containment up to 5 percent, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire’s evening report on the County fire, which began on Saturday near Guinda in Yolo County before spreading into Napa County, said it is now threatening 700 structures.

So far, none of those structures have been reported destroyed or damaged, and no injuries have occurred, according to Cal Fire.

As of Monday evening, Cal Fire said the incident had not crossed into Lake County.

Radio traffic indicated another busy day on the incident for firefighters.

During the afternoon, the fire was reported to have crossed over containment lines north of Lake Berryessa.

Structure protection also was reported to be going on around the fire area, as the flames approached buildings that were identified as hunting cabins.

Winds were not reported to have been as high in recent days; on Monday afternoon they were said to be in the single digits, from the south southwest.

The winds are forecast to pick up overnight, at which time relative humidity – which aids firefighting – is expected to rise, based on radio reports.

With firefighters working in difficult terrain, there is still high potential for more fire growth, Cal Fire said.

More resources joined the firefighting effort on Monday. Cal Fire reported that 2,115 personnel, 177 engines, 51 water tenders, 12 helicopters, 51 hand crews and 50 dozers, plus numerous air tankers, were working the incident.

Mandatory evacuations remain in place for the area north of Highway 128 in Yolo County, not including the city of Winters; south of County Road 23; east of Berryessa Knoxville Road; west of County Road 89; south of the community of Esparto, although agricultural equipment will be permitted; residences served by Highway 128, between Monticello Dam and Pleasants Valley Road, Cal Fire said.

Evacuation advisories also continue for the area north of Quail Canyon Road, south of Highway 128, east of the Blue Ridge mountains and west of Pleasants Valley Road, according to Cal Fire.

Road closures include northbound County Road 87 from Highway 128; Berryessa Knoxville Road, from the Pope Creek Bridge to the Napa/Lake County line; eastbound Highway 128 at Markley Resort; and westbound Highway 128 at Pleasants Valley Road, Cal Fire said.

Officials said Pleasants Valley Road, south from Highway 128, remains open to serve traffic
into Solano County.

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.


070218 County fire evacuation map by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After a nearly three-year closure due to the damage resulting from the Valley fire, the Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest is set for a limited reopening beginning later this month.

In 2015 the 76,067 acre Valley fire burned from Cobb down through Middletown in one day driven by extreme winds and dry fuels.

It is estimated that 98 percent of the 3,493-acre Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest was impacted by the fire.

Due to fire damage and the vast amount of work needed to make it safe for public use, the forest has been closed since the fire.

Immediately following the fire, Cal Fire initiated a plan for cleanup logging and reforestation of the property.

Foresters from all over the state were brought in to assess the damage to the timber and mark trees for retention based upon the fire intensity and fire damage to the tree.

In just over one calendar year over 50 million board feet of timber was harvested from the forest. This is enough to build approximately 5,000 mid-sized homes.

In addition, 21 miles of forest roads were repaired as well.

Logging slash and charred vegetation were piled and burned over the last two winters.

In the spring of 2017 and 2018 there were 702,695 trees planted on 3100 acres using seeds that were collected from the forest.

With the vast majority of the timberland on the Forest planted, and the bulk of the dead trees removed, Cal Fire will be opening Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest to the public for day use only starting July 16.

No camping will be permitted on the forest as the majority of the restrooms in the campgrounds
were destroyed and numerous other hazards are present that would make nighttime occupancy unsafe.

Over the course of the year the forest staff will focus on the rebuilding of recreation infrastructure, including restrooms and trail building.

As many hazards still exist on the forest and the trail system is severely damaged by logging, public use will be limited to the existing road system. Portions of the property that still pose a hazard to the public will be off limits.

The designated shooting area will be accessible to the public on Aug. 1 but will be subject to temporary closures for Forest Staff safety while working in the vicinity.

It is strongly encouraged that the public call ahead before traveling to the shooting area to verify that it is open.

“I would like to thank all the Cal Fire personnel and private vendors who worked hard to mitigate the fire damage to this point. Although more work is needed, we are committed and pleased to open Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest back to the public,” said Cal Fire Unit Chief Shana Jones.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Challenging conditions on the Pawnee fire on Sunday led to another increase in acreage with no change in containment.

Cal Fire said Sunday evening that the incident was up to 14,500 acres, with containment at 73 percent.

Approximately 2,426 firefighters, 123 engines, 30 water tenders, 11 helicopters, 57 hand crews, 34 dozers and numerous air tankers remained assigned to the fire on Sunday, Cal Fire said.

Resources remain at a premium, as the County fire in neighboring Yolo County has continued to blow up, rising to 32,500 acres on Sunday after burning a little more than 24 hours.

The Pawnee fire, which began June 23 in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks, entered its second week in the midst of extremely hot temperatures and high winds

Cal Fire said that while a red flag warning had expired earlier in the day, conditions remained very hot and dry, and the winds were erratic.

The agency said the fire is capable of making sustained runs due to the type of fuels and topography.

Conditions led to a continuing and immediate threat to the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision, located off Highway 20 east of Spring Valley.

The subdivision had been evacuated last week, with residents allowed to return on Thursday. However, with the fire moving back toward the community on Saturday, it was once again under mandatory evacuation order. Fifty homes are reported to be threatened by the fire.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported on Sunday that the American Red Cross closed its evacuation center at Lower Lake High School after no Double Eagle residents checked in there overnight. Any fire area residents needing assistance are urged to call the Red Cross at 707-577-7600.

Cal Fire said an evacuation advisory remains in effect for the area between Highway 20 and Morgan Valley Road and from Sky High Ridge Road and the county line.

On Sunday firefighters worked to stop the fire before it got to Double Eagle, where some of the residents had reportedly stayed behind in spite of the order to leave, according to radio reports.

Fire crews battled multiple spot fires and protected structures, with air resources also working the incident. Animal Care and Control also was reported to be working to evacuate animals.

At one point early Sunday evening air resources were redirected to a small vegetation fire near the Adobe Creek Dam in Kelseyville. That fire was contained at less than two acres, as Lake County News has reported.

Several road closures remain in effect, the main one being Highway 20 between the intersection with Highway 53 at Clearlake Oaks east to E Street in Williams due to the fire, Caltrans reported.

Also closed are Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20 and Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20, officials said.

Full containment on the fire is estimated to occur on July 5.

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.

 

 

070118 Pawnee fire incident map by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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