The 3.3-magnitude temblor occurred at 2:48 a.m. Sunday, April 10, according to the US Geological Survey.

Its epicenter was three miles west southwest of Anderson Springs, four miles southeast of The Geysers geothermal steamfield and five miles south of Cobb, at a depth of nine-tenths of a mile, the survey reported.

The US Geological Survey received no shake reports on the quake.

A 3.5-magnitude earthquake was reported near The Geysers on March 20, as Lake County News has reported.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tuleyome, a Woodland-based conservation organization, has taken ownership of 620 acres on the south flank of Goat Mountain.

The land is located in Lake County at the headwaters of the upper North Fork of Cache Creek.

The land is an in-holdings in the Mendocino National Forest, the group reported.

The Goat Mountain properties were previously owned by the California Institute of Man in Nature as a part of John Olmsted’s vision for an Across California Trail along the 39^th parallel, which is approximately the route of Highway 20.

Olmsted described his vision as an ecological corridor with islands of protected lands – “Beads on a Necklace.”

Other properties that Olmsted helped to protect include Jug Handle State Reserve on the coast, Sutter Buttes in the Central Valley and the Bridgeport covered bridge on the South Yuba River.

Olmsted also helped to build the Independence Trail on the South Yuba that is one of the first handicap assessable nature trails in the nation.

He died on March 8, and will be remembered through his conservation legacy.

“It has been a pretty intensive effort over the past eight months to secure these properties,” said Bob Schneider, Tuleyome’s senior policy director. “The property was in danger of sale for back taxes and there were 30 outstanding Deeds of Trust. We worked through that and the owners of the Deeds of Trust were incredibly generous. It was a pleasure to permanently secure this portion of John’s conservation legacy.”

This was an important purchase for Tuleyome. The group's major project is the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area. Tuleyome’s proposal ranges over 100 miles from south to north and includes 500,000 of public lands.

“Tuleyome’s proposed National Conservation Area and John Olmsted’s vision for an east-west ecological corridor intersect at the Goat Mountain properties,” said Tuleyome President Andrew Fulks.

The properties, from 2,800 feet to more than 4,000 feet in elevation, are sited on a very large ancient landslide above the upper North Fork of Cache Creek.

The tops of these types of landslides are “lumpy” creating areas of wetlands and springs that have high levels of biological diversity.

“I fell in love with the property when I visited and saw milk vetch with Monarch butterflies,” added Schneider.

He also pointed out that one of the largest sugar pines in the region, “Big Bertha,” is found on the site.

The parcels were once homesteaded and are named White Ranch Glades, Root Glades, Wyman Flat and Addington Springs.

Tuleyome intends to offer tours and educational trips to the Goat Mountain properties.

For more information contact Tuleyome at www.tuleyome.org or 530-350-2599.

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This rustic version of vichyssoise is topped with Russian-style yogurt and garnished with thyme leaves and blossoms. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Leeks may be described as the more gentile members of the onion family. They whisper their association with their strongly-flavored relatives in a subtle, refined manner.

Like onions and garlic, leeks are members of the allium family, but are quieter than their somewhat raucous cousins. You might say they’re the introverts in a very extroverted family.

The flavor common to this family of plants is gently present in the leek, its pungency tempered by a mild sweetness.

Other members of the allium family include shallots, scallions, spring onions and ramps, which are harvested in the wild and are also known as wild leeks, though the aroma and flavor is far stronger.

Asparagus is a distant cousin of the leek, residing in the same family of lily as onions. European chefs at one time called leeks “the poor man’s asparagus,” apt because leeks and asparagus may substitute for one another as side dishes since their flavors mesh well with similar foods.

Long, lanky leeks are sometimes described as looking like larger versions of one of their relatives, the scallion. It is true that scallions look a bit like leeks in miniature. Both are stalks with straight, slender white bulbs that become light green shafts, and both have a mass of darker green leaves at their tops.

Leeks are often described as looking like larger versions of their cousins, scallions. Photo by Esther Oertel.

To further the similarity, leeks may be pulled from the ground and eaten while pencil thin like scallions, though it’s rare to see them in this form. Typically they’re many times larger than their smaller cousin.

It is thought that leeks originated in Central Asia. They’ve been cultivated in that area, as well as in Europe and North Africa, for upwards of 3,000 years.

Dried leek specimens have been found in archaeological digs in Egypt, which, along with carvings and drawings, have led scientists to believe that leeks were part of the diet of the ancient Egyptians from at least 2,000 BC onwards.

Along these lines, leeks are among the foods mentioned in the Biblical book of Numbers as being missed by the Israelites after their escape from slavery in Egypt.

Leeks were prized in ancient Greece and Rome, where they were especially favored because they were thought to have beneficial effects on the throat. It is said that the Roman Emperor Nero ate leeks every day because he thought it would make his voice stronger.

Leeks were likely introduced to the United Kingdom by the Romans, where they flourished because of their ability to withstand cold weather. Their popularity is well rooted in Wales, where their image serves as part of the national emblem, a leek within a crown. Legend has it that this stems from a successful battle against the Saxons in 1620, when Welsh soldiers wore leeks in their hats to differentiate themselves from their enemies.

I find the leek a beautiful vegetable, with its thick interwoven deep green foliage and the tightly-bound accordion of paper-thin circular leaves in its light-colored shaft.

This trimmed leek stem has been cut in half lengthwise, revealing tightly-bundled leaf sheaths, a characteristic of leeks. Photo by Esther Oertel.

The light color of the stalk is created by a growing method called trenching, where soil is pushed around the shafts as they grow to blanch them. The foliage that is exposed to the sun becomes green, while the lower part of the plant underground remains tender and white.

It is this growing method that causes the leek to harbor dirt between the creases of its stalk, making it important to thoroughly clean leeks prior to using them.

Depending on how the leeks will be prepared, this can be achieved by one of two methods, either by slicing the trimmed stalk lengthwise and running water between the layers to remove dirt, or by slicing the stalk into rounds and soaking the pieces in a water-filled bowl, finishing with a good rinse.

Most recipes call for use of the white and light green portions of the stalk only, though I did find a rare recipe that called for the dark green leaves sans the lower stalk, celery-pear bisque with leeks. Typically the upper foliage isn’t used, both because of their toughness and the somewhat bitter taste. They can be used for making stock or for tying with herbs in a bouquet garni to flavor soups and stews.

One of the most common uses of leeks is in soup, though there are other interesting ways to use these gentlemen of the garden. They’re delightful in egg dishes, sautéed with potatoes or added to pasta or risotto. Mushrooms, fennel, lemon, and certain cheeses (Gruyere or goat, for example) are good matches for leeks.

Leeks also pair nicely with fish, and I found a scrumptious-sounding recipe online for white fish fillets baked with a creamy mixture of leeks and sour cream.

For something different, try oven roasting leeks with olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Stalks should be cut in half lengthwise for this application and roasted till tender in a 400 degree oven, about 35 or 40 minutes. They can be moistened with a bit of vegetable broth from time to time to prevent drying out.

Leeks may also be braised, and are particularly delicious when braised in white wine with garlic and thyme. As with roasting, half stalks should be used. Brown them on both sides in butter before the braising liquid is added. Cover them to gently simmer on the stovetop until fork tender, about 40 minutes. A bay leaf may be added while braising for additional flavor.

Because they’re members of the allium family, leeks, though studied less, share many of the beneficial compounds and health benefits of onions and garlic.

A good rinse after soaking ensures hidden dirt is removed. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Among these are flavonoids that protect blood vessel lings from damage, the B vitamin folate which supports the cardiovascular system, and antioxidants that protect against heart disease and some forms of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer.

Some health professionals recommended consuming allium vegetables on a daily basis because of their many benefits, making leeks a valuable addition to one’s cuisine.

This week’s recipe is a new take on vichyssoise, a leek and potato soup that’s intended to be served cold, though this version may also be served warm. Leeks and potatoes are a popular combination for soup, and with changeable spring weather, I wanted to offer a recipe that would be useful for cold or warm temperatures.

Most vichyssoises are rich in saturated fat, made with butter and cream, so I rearranged the ingredients for a healthier version. Rather than butter, the leeks are sautéed in flavorful locally-made extra virgin olive oil, and the soup is finished with some mild Russian-style yogurt rather than cream.

This version of vichyssoise is rustic, with the peels of the potatoes left on for additional nutrition and fiber. It can be garnished with fresh herbs of your choice, such as parsley, tarragon, or dill, but my favorite is thyme.

We had it warm for supper the night I made it, and I had the leftovers cold for lunch the next day. Enjoy!

Esther’s “be kind to your heart” vichyssoise

6 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced into thin rounds and thoroughly cleaned

6 cups red potatoes (about 8 medium), with some skin left on, diced

4 to 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 quart vegetable broth

1 teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ cup Russian-style plain yogurt (and additional for garnish if serving cold, optional)

Fresh herbs of your choice for garnish (such as parsley, dill, tarragon or thyme)

Sauté leeks in olive oil in large soup pot until tender, about five minutes.

Add vegetable broth, potatoes, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Turn down heat, cover pot and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow soup to cool for a few minutes before pureeing with an immersion blender (preferred) or a food processor. (If using a food processor, you may have to process it in batches.)

Add yogurt and blend.

Serve soup warm or chill for several hours or overnight and serve cold. If serving cold, garnish with a dollop of yogurt.

Garnish warm or cold soup with chopped fresh herbs of your choice.

Makes about eight servings

Recipe by Esther Oertel.

Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport, Calif., and gives private cooking lessons. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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According to the California Department of Finance, there will be more than six million seniors aged 65 and over by the year 2020 in this state.

“Getting older does not mean the end of a person’s driving days,” said California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow. “It’s the perfect time to evaluate, improve and maintain the safety and mobility of California’s senior drivers.”

With more and more seniors taking to the roads every year, the CHP has received a federal grant that will not only help educate senior drivers and raise their awareness about how to keep safe on the roads, but will ultimately assist in the CHP’s mission of saving lives.

The overall goal of the “Keeping Everyone Safe (KEYS) II” grant is to reduce the number of fatal and injury collisions caused by senior drivers (aged 65 and over) within CHP jurisdiction by 5 percent by Sept. 30, 2011.

To achieve this goal the CHP will launch a statewide public education and awareness campaign focusing on senior traffic safety and mobility.

Television and radio public service announcements and community-based committees will be established. These committees will collaborate to assess the issues most relevant to senior drivers and to make recommendations to address the needs of the senior driving community.

The committees also will include members from public and private organizations, including law enforcement, health and aging professionals, transportation agency representatives and other interested parties.

In addition, CHP personnel will conduct public awareness and educational presentations statewide.

“With California’s senior population doubling in size by 2020, we need to take care of our older drivers, passengers and pedestrians using our roadways,” added Farrow.

This grant is presented in collaboration with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Funding for the “Keeping Everyone Safe (KEYS) II” grant was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Local and state fire officials responded on Sunday afternoon to a fire in the High Valley area that turned out to be a controlled burn.

The fire was reported just before 2:30 p.m. along an area of High Valley Road, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log entry.

Radio reports indicated firefighters from Northshore Fire and Cal Fire were responding, with dozers coming from the other side of the county.

By about 4 p.m. Northshore firefighters were leaving the scene and heading back to their stations.

Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown said the fire turned out to be a controlled burn.

However, Brown said he intended to follow up on the permit, which wasn't issued through his agency, nor did it appear that Cal Fire had issued it.

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In commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the founding of Lake County this year, Lake County News is publishing a series of historical stories about the county, its people and places. This week's story looks at the history of one of the county's most famous attractions – Bartlett Springs.

Lake County was reputed to have more mineral springs and of a greater variety than the whole of Europe, where “taking the waters” and sojourning at these famed spas was practiced faithfully by the very wealthy for generations.

They visited the spas not only for the supposedly therapeutic values of the waters, but the spas also were a gathering place for the socially prominent and elite, who spend several weeks or more vacationing at the elaborate, luxurious hotels and resorts that built up around these springs.

This mineral health complex spanned about half a century, with the peak years of popularity running from the 1870s up through World War I.

Bartlett Springs was doubtless one of the most favorite of all the health and pleasure resorts in Lake County.

These springs are located on what is known as the middle fork of Cache Creek, in the northeastern portion of the county.

In 1870 Mr. Greene Bartlett, an old hunter, in passing up this fork of Cache Creek, came upon the spring and was attracted to it by its volume and some characteristics of the taste of the water.

He was suffering from a severe and prolonged attack of rheumatism, and he decided to stop awhile and see if there were any virtues in the water. At the end of a couple of weeks, he found that he had made rapid improvement.

He then went out to the settlements and gathered a party of 14, all afflicted one way or another, but mostly with rheumatism, and piloted them to his newly found Bethesda. To their surprise they found the waters did all and even more than Mr. Bartlett in his enthusiasm had claimed for them.

Bartlett had now found out, to a certainty, that there were real virtues in the water, and he proceeded at once to locate upon the property.

The famed Bartlett Springs resort at the height of its popularity. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Historic Courthouse Museum.

On Oct. 12, 1870, Bartlett and L. Tharp filed a claim for certain mineral springs known and designated as Bartlett Springs.

Almost immediately Bartlett and Tharp started construction of a few very crude cabins, and early visitors had difficulty reaching the springs, as they had to travel 15 miles over a very rough, and in some areas almost impenetrable, thicket to arrive at their destinations.

The original investment of the two men was $10,000, and a two-story hotel and about 40 cabins were constructed by 1873.

By 1874, there were 75 cabins and tent units, and the Bartlett water was for sale throughout the state, apparently being transported in barrels, and later in glass bottles that were covered with woven tules for protection against breakage.

In 1877 the history of this resort changed radically, when Samuel G. McMahan became interested in it, and he and his brother-in-law Calvin R. Clarke bought a one-half interest from Bartlett for $2,500.

McMahan died in 1884 and his survivors, who differed with Bartlett on the running of the resort, paid Bartlett $1,250 for his personal property and had Sheriff L. H. Boggs offer the springs for sale.

The land and improvements were purchased by Mrs. McMahan and her two sons, J.E. and Cal, for $60,100 on June 2, 1887. Bartlett received one-half of this amount for his interest in Bartlett Springs.

Following the disposal of his interest, he remained in Lake County, living in Upper Lake where he died in 1908.

The new owners immediately started improving the facilities, first by employing Chinese laborers to build a toll road from the Nice-Lucerne area to the springs, and a steamer service across Clear Lake to Bartlett Landing from Lakeport.

In all, there were five hotels, 350 cabins and other buildings on the premises.

By 1894 the resort was described as “one of the greatest natural sanitariums in the world,” listing first-class hotels, supplied with every convenience; the cuisine prepared by chefs of continental reputation cannot be excelled.

For more information about the Lake County Sesquicentennial, visit www.lc150.org, join the celebration at https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Lake-County-Sesquicentennial/171845856177015 and follow it on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCo150 .

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Lake County Vet Connect officially got under way in March, offering a critical link between homeless and jobless vets and services that they're entitled to receive because of their service.

The group offers twice-monthly events where veterans can sit down with fellow veterans, explain their situations and get the services they need.

Vet Connect's intake and outreach events will take place twice a month – on the second Wednesday at the American Legion Post No. 437, 14770 Austin Road in Clearlake, from 9 a.m. to noon, and the same hours on the third Wednesday in Lakeport at Umpqua Bank, 805 11^th St. Both the post and the bank are providing the space for the effort free of charge.

The clinics this month will be held in Clearlake on April 13 and in Lakeport on April 20.

The first Vet Connect took place on March 16, and organizers called it a “tremendous success,” with 26 veterans served in what is expected to be the first of many sessions.

Lucerne vet Frank Parker, president of the United Veterans Council, called the program's goal “a hand up, not a handout.”

Parker was one of the local veterans instrumental in founding Lake County's Vet Connect. He said it was exciting to see so many veterans getting the help they need.

This past January, United Veterans Council of Lake County formed a committee to address the needs of the county's homeless and underserved veterans. Local veterans officials said the committee arose based on the concerns of local veterans organizations and the Lake County Veterans Service Office, which are committed to ending homelessness in Lake County.

Out of that committee came Lake County Vet Connect, the group said.

Parker emphasized that Vet Connect is a combined effort of many groups in the county. He said group affiliations have been put aside in order to join together in a common goal of serving veterans in need.

Parker helped lay the groundwork for the group when, last year, he began researching how to put it all together and make a one-stop experience for veterans. He came across Sonoma County's Vet Connect, which has assisted by offering expertise, guidance and even the forms that will be needed for vet intake.

The research and work that Parker and his fellow veterans did to put together Lake County Vet Connect revealed that “a lot of these services are already available in Lake County,” according to Dan Davi, a Vietnam veteran involved in Lake County Vet Connect.

Parker and the group also created their own Vet Connect handbook, with information on local services available to vets.

Government and nonprofit organizations that will have a presence at the monthly Vet Connect outreach events include Veterans Administration Support Housing, Lake County Veterans Service Office, Lake County Mental Health, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Disability Services and Legal Center, CalFresh for general assistance and food stamps, Employment Development Department, Drug and Alcohol Center, Legal Education, Financial Education, North Bay Veterans Resource Center and Catholic Charities.

The work is complementing that done by the Lake County Veterans Service Office.

“Part of our job is to connect veterans to local resources, to assist in whatever they need,” said county Assistant Veteran Service Officer Bob Penny.

However, Penny explained that he and his staff are so busy working with the Department of Veterans Affairs that they don't always have time to research and keep up with all the programs that are available locally, and which are always changing.

He said Vet Connect has been doing a lot of research and finding new resources.

In one example, a local veteran's roof was damaged by the wind. “He called here to see what might be available,” said Penny.

Penny gave made a call to Parker, who found some assistance through the US Department of Agriculture. “This was something that I didn't know about that Frank did research on and found,” said Penny.

“To have their help in doing this is an immense help to all of our veterans and their dependents in our county,” Penny said.

The background to the effort

Local veterans have put enormous time and preparation into creating Vet Connect to serve their comrades in arms.

Ahead of the official kickoff of Vet Connect last month, a group of veterans involved in the effort gathered in the upstairs community meeting room at Umpqua Bank on 11^th Street in Lakeport.

Tom Benton, a Vietnam vet from Sonoma County who was a founding member of its Vet Connect, took the men through a practice intake interview, with local vet Kirk Macdonald sitting across from him, playing the part of a veteran seeking services.

Benton led the interview in an easy going manner, explaining to Macdonald that he would next be directed over to some tables where a Veterans Affairs social worker would check his eligibility for health benefits and shelter.

“You're going to have to feel your way through it,” Benton told the vets who watched him work through the process.

He explained the importance of keeping information confidential and also making veterans – some of whom have never approached the system and haven't wanted to – comfortable.

Having veterans work with other veterans helps tear down barriers right away, Benton said.

Helping similar Vet Connect programs get started outside of Sonoma County “is something we've wanted to do for a long time,” said Benton.

Sonoma County's Vet Connect began in November 2007. The founders included eight vets – seven of them, including Benton, having served in Vietnam – and local service providers.

The effort in Sonoma County started out as a way to help homeless vets, said Benton, who himself had been homeless for 18 months at one time. Another of the founding vets also had been homeless.

Over time, the group became so proficient at dealing with large numbers of veterans that Benton said

Sonoma County officials wanted to know how they did it. Benton said it's because they're not a bureaucracy, and can therefore move more swiftly and efficiently.

They're not sure how many vets to expect to serve over time, but they said their outreach will help validate the numbers and the need in Lake County.

Parker also believes that the word will travel, and Benton said that in Sonoma County word of mouth has been a key way of communicating the available services.

Parker said they estimate they will need seven volunteers for each event. They're already getting more offers of help.

To offer assistance in the form of volunteering or donations, of if a local group would like to be an onsite service provider, contact Parker at 707-274-9512 or Kirk Macdonald, 707-263-8449.

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Gustavo Lopez, 22, died as a result of the incident, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.

Several hours later, police arrested 34-year-old Angelo Ray Short of Clearlake, who is alleged to have hit Lopez with his car before fleeing the scene, according to Hobbs.

He said that at approximately 2:40 a.m. Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the area of Old Highway 53 and Park Street for a reported traffic collision.

Within minutes of being dispatched, three Clearlake Police officers arrived on scene and located Lopez lying on the lawn at the entrance to the Clearlake Resort, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said Lopez had sustained life threatening injuries as a result of a vehicle striking him as he was riding his bicycle on the shoulder of Old Highway 53. The vehicle that struck Lopez fled the scene and did not make any attempt to check on Lopez’s condition.

Officers requested that medical personnel from the Lake County Fire Department respond to the scene. A short time later medical personnel arrived, and began performing life saving measures on Lopez, who Hobbs said was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, where he was pronounced dead.

Clearlake Police Department detectives and fatal traffic collision investigators responded to the scene and relieved the patrol officers so they would be able to resume their patrol duties, Hobbs said.

Through interviews with witnesses and evidence at the scene, Hobbs said it is believed Lopez and Charles Farlow, 21, of Clearlake were riding their bicycles south on the paved shoulder of Old Highway 53.

As Lopez and Farlow were approaching the entrance to the Clearlake Resort, Lopez was struck by a car that was also traveling south on Old Highway 53. Hobbs said the driver of the vehicle did not stop and fled the scene.

He said the vehicle was determined to be a 1993 to 1997 red-colored Geo Prism, which had sustained damage to the front end.

Around 7:45 a.m. Saturday, Clearlake Police detectives located the involved vehicle, a red 1994 Geo Prism, parked at a residence at the B&B Lighthouse Resort. Hobbs said the vehicle was towed as evidence and stored at the Clearlake Police Department pending the issuance of a search warrant on the vehicle.

Hobbs said Short was contacted at the residence and interviewed by detectives regarding his involvement in the collision. While being interviewed, Short allegedly admitted to being the driver of the vehicle and fleeing the scene after the collision.

Short was arrested for felony hit and run with death and vehicular manslaughter and later booked into the Lake County Jail. His booking sheet indicated that his bail was set at $25,000, and he remained in custody early Sunday morning.

The news of Lopez's death, announced on Lake County News' Facebook page Saturday afternoon, resulted in numerous expressions of sadness, disbelief and condolences to the young man's family.

Readers who contacted Lake County News about Lopez, whose family owns Havy's restaurant, recalled him as a warm, funloving young man who cared about others.

“He was a great young man with a lot of ambition,” said Amanda Conley. “He worked hard for what he wanted and took great pride in himself and his family. From what I have seen, Gustavo never turned a blind eye to anyone that needed help. This accident provides a great loss for everyone who knows him, and my heart goes out to the family.”

Hidden Valley Lake resident Taqua Ammar recalled seeing Lopez for the last time at a local gas station after he had gotten off work for the day. They chatted, and Ammar noted that Lopez seemed happy.

“The magical thing about Gustavo though was how charismatic he was,” Ammar said. “He was the life of the whole gas station that night. After we said our goodbyes I saw him talking to the owners and random people in the store. That's how he was even when he was tired, and even if it was 10 o' clock at night.”

Ammar added, “He cared about people and he had a natural gift of making people laugh. As I walked out of the gas station I heard someone crackle over another one of Gustavo's hilarious jokes. I miss him. I will never forget the memories we had! He was a good guy with a good heart. May he rest in peace.”

The Clearlake Police Department asked that anyone with information regarding this case contact Detective Alvarado at 707-994-8251, Extension 329.

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A fire engulfs a home on 40th Avenue in Clearlake, Calif., early on Sunday, April 10, 2011. Photo by Susanah Carlsen.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Sunday morning fire destroyed a red-tagged residence in Clearlake.

The house, located in the 15000 block of 40^th Avenue, was reported to be on fire at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log.

Lake County Fire officials could not be reached Sunday for additional information.

Susanah Carlsen, who lives across the street from the structure – which she believed was a mobile home with an add-on – said it was “up in flames” by about 2:30 a.m., and she called the fire department. She estimated that the fire likely began around 2 a.m.

Carlsen said nobody lived at the home, which was red-tagged a few weeks ago, although she noted, that there have been people inside and around it during the past few weeks and especially within the last few days.

She said she didn't know if anyone was harmed.

The structure was still standing Sunday, Carlsen said. “It's pretty burnt up, but all the walls appear to still be up.”

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A Lake County Fire Protection fire truck arrives on scene at an early morning structure fire on 40th Avenue in Clearlake, Calif., early on Sunday, April 10, 2011. Photo by Susanah Carlsen.

School districts in the county may also qualify for an exemption from having certain state payments deferred, according to a report from North Coast Assemblyman Wes Chesbro.

“The Legislature felt cuts to the First 5 program would hurt small counties disproportionately and the budget package we approved states that counties falling under a certain funding threshold are exempt from spending cuts to their local programs,” said Chesbro (D-Arcata). “First Five Lake County is one of the programs that qualifies for this exemption.”

When the Legislature cut $11 billion in state spending last month, included was a $1 billion funding shift away from First 5 California, which is funded by Proposition 10 tobacco tax money, to health care programs for children age 5 and under, Chesbro reported.

Assembly Bill 99, the budget trailer bill passed last month that contains the funding shift, includes language exempting local First Five programs that received $600,000 or less from Proposition 10 money. Chesbro said First 5 Lake County qualifies because it received $500,567 in Proposition 10 funds in fiscal year 2009-10.

Lake County’s small school districts may also be eligible for some relief in the form of exemptions from deferred payments the state authorized in the budget package passed last month, he said.

“School districts in rural counties that are at risk of not being able to meet their financial obligations if payments are deferred can apply for a hardship waiver to be exempt from the deferrals,” Chesbro said.

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Thanks to a local resident, a family of squirrels has found a unique home.

Bob Reynolds, the county's retired air pollution control officer, captured these pictures of a squirrel family at home in a custom-made “Mac House.”

Reynolds, who lives in Kelseyville, said the Mac House has been up for 14 years.

This year, for the first time, a mom squirrel has moved in and has three babies with her, Reynolds said.

He said he's looking forward to the adolescent play phase as the three young squirrels “should really add a dynamic in racing around the trees.”

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