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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Cal Fire Mendocino Complex evening update revealed growth on the Ranch Fire while containment remained at 76 percent.
The Ranch Fire is now at 341,047 acres, a 5,400-acre increase from the a.m. report.

The fire continues to threaten 1050 structures and is burning in four counties, Colusa, Glenn, Lake and Mendocino.

Overall containment on the Mendocino Complex also remains unchanged from the a.m. report at 79% with the River Fire 100 percent contained.

Assigned resources include 3,495 firefighters, 188 engines, 86 water tenders, 21 helicopters, 74 hand crews and 63 dozers.

Sunday the Ranch Fire burned actively in the northeast portion, according to the CalFire situation summary, below.
The fire growth has been moving north/northeast for the past several days. The northwest portion of the fire had backing activity but was holding to the road system.

Firing operations are planned for Sunday evening as weather permits. Warming and drying trend continues with near single digit afternoon relative humidity, along with very poor recoveries.

Line construction and mop up continue with hand crews and dozers. Helicopters continue to be a vital tool in this firefighting effort. Two helibases and two mobile retardant plants are located on the fire lines of the Ranch Fire.

The southern portion of the fire remains in patrol status as crews continue with suppression repair and mop up. The River Fire had no movement. Suppression repair along with patrol will continue on the River Fire.
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Work under way on a Valley fire survivor's home in Lake County, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Besieged by another fire and facing growing number of homes in need of repair and rebuilding Lake County, Habitat for Humanity is in urgent need of qualified construction supervisors, home repair specialists and construction volunteers.

In order to help Lake County get back on its feet, the organization needs donations in order to continue the rebuilding efforts for those in need.

Contact 707-994-1100, Extension 103, to volunteer or stop by the office at 15312 Lakeshore Dr. Clearlake for employment applications today.

Donations can be mailed to PO Box 1830 Lower Lake, CA 95457.

Additionally, if you are a low income homeowner or renter who lost your home in any of Lake County’s fires, stop by the office or call 707-994-1100, Extension 106, to discuss qualifications for our homeownership program and to receive an application package.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced Saturday night that President Trump has issued a major disaster declaration for Lake County for the Mendocino Complex.

This declaration allows federal funds to be available to help Lake County survivors recover and rebuild from the Mendocino Complex fires, which began on July 27, and continue to burn across the region.

This includes Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance funding that will be available to individuals to allow them to rebuild and repair homes and structures that were damaged or destroyed and replace housing and other property that are not covered by insurance.

“For the fourth year in a row, Lake County has been battered by fire, but once again our community is demonstrating its strength and resiliency in full force. Today’s announcement is another important step on our road to recovery,” said Thompson. “These funds are a critical part of helping our community return to normal and rebuild once again. Thank you to all in our delegation who joined my call for this critical support and to firefighters, first responders, and law enforcement who continue to put their lives on the line to contain this destructive blaze. The path to rebuild has been made that much clearer today.”

The amendment to the presidential disaster declaration of Aug. 4, 2018, made at the request of Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr., now makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals and business owners in Lake and Shasta counties.

On Aug. 7, Thompson, along with Reps. John Garamendi and Jared Huffman, led a bipartisan letter to the President urging him to approve the disaster declaration and make these funds available to fire survivors.

Thompson has prepared a Disaster Guide to help constituents navigate the recovery process that you can read by clicking here.

Individuals who may be eligible for individual assistance should apply through one of the following options:

– Apply by phone to FEMA: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time seven days a week until further notice.
– You can also apply online anytime at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
– By smartphone or tablet, use www.fema.gov.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

– Social Security number.
– Address of the damaged primary residence.
– Description of the damage.
– Information about insurance coverage.
– A current contact telephone number.
– An address where they can receive mail.
– Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for:

– Rental assistance.
– Essential home repairs.
– Uninsured and underinsured personal property losses.
– Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if a survivor has registered with another disaster-relief organization, such as the American Red Cross.

FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but survivors may register even if they have insurance since some help may be available while claims are being settled.

For more information, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4382 and www.WildfireRecovery.org.
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Numerous Lake County educators gathered at the Marge Alakszay Center at the Lakeport Unified School District in Lakeport, Calif., on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, to learn techniques for addressing trauma in students that may be caused by the Mendocino Complex fire and previous Lake County fires. The training was organized by Lakeport Unified and facilitated by Mandy Corbin and Mary Champion, who provided trauma care and education to the Sonoma County schools after their devastating fires last year. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Office of Education.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s school districts are preparing to welcome students back to classes this week, with some schools having been delayed due to the Mendocino Complex.

The Lake County Office of Education and district offices have confirmed the following start dates for the 2018-19 school year:

– Aug. 20: Konocti Unified, Middletown Unified;
– Aug. 22: Lakeport Unified, Lucerne Elementary, Upper Lake Unified;
– Sept. 4: Kelseyville Unified.

The Mendocino Complex delayed the start of school for the Konocti, Lakeport, Lucerne and Upper Lake districts, where facilities have had to be thoroughly cleaned over the past few weeks, as Lake County News has reported.

Middletown and Kelseyville’s start dates remain unchanged, officials reported.

In Upper Lake, Superintendent Dr. Giovanni Annous reported that air scrubbers were installed in school facilities to restore air quality to normal levels.

Earlier this month, the district board decided to delay the start of school one week to Aug. 22.

Annous said that after analyzing the situation and potential impacts of changes to the opening of the school year, the district decided that the Aug. 22 start date “will be in the best interest of our students, staff, parents and community.”

He added, “We understand that in some unique situations some students, parents and teachers might have some undue burden and will need some accommodation in the first few days. The district will work with them individually to address and support their needs.”

School officials also are preparing to help students cope in the aftermath of the Mendocino Complex, the largest wildland fire incident in state history.

On Tuesday, administrators, counselors, school psychologists and board members from around Lake County attended “Trauma Informed Approaches to Support Lake County Students,” the Lake County Office of Education reported.

The presenters were Mandy Corbin, administrator, and Mary Champion, psychologist, from Sonoma County Office of Education.

The Lake County Office of Education said they covered how to support ourselves and empower others and provided resources for the sites to share with staff and students.

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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NASA's Opportunity rover has been silent since June 10, when a planet-encircling dust storm cut off solar power for the nearly-15-year-old rover.

Now that scientists think the global dust storm is "decaying" – meaning more dust is falling out of the atmosphere than is being raised back into it – skies might soon clear enough for the solar-powered rover to recharge and attempt to "phone home."

No one will know how the rover is doing until it speaks. But the team notes there’s reason to be optimistic: They’ve performed several studies on the state of its batteries before the storm, and temperatures at its location.

Because the batteries were in relatively good health before the storm, there’s not likely to be too much degradation.

And because dust storms tend to warm the environment – and the 2018 storm happened as Opportunity’s location on Mars entered summer – the rover should have stayed warm enough to survive.

What will engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, be looking for – and what will those signs mean for recovery efforts?

A tau below 2

Dust storms on Mars block sunlight from reaching the surface, raising the level of a measurement called "tau."

The higher the tau, the less sunlight is available; the last tau measured by Opportunity was 10.8 on June 10. To compare, an average tau for its location on Mars is usually 0.5.

JPL engineers predict that Opportunity will need a tau of less than 2.0 before the solar-powered rover will be able to recharge its batteries.

A wide-angle camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will watch for surface features to become visible as the skies clear. That will help scientists estimate the tau.

Updates on the dust storm and tau can be found here.

Two ways to listen for Opportunity

Several times a week, engineers use NASA’s Deep Space Network, which communicates between planetary probes and Earth, to attempt to talk with Opportunity.

The massive DSN antennas ping the rover during scheduled "wake-up" times, and then search for signals sent from Opportunity in response.

In addition, JPL's radio science group uses special equipment on DSN antennas that can detect a wider range of frequencies.

Each day, they record any radio signal from Mars over most of the rover's daylight hours, then search the recordings for Opportunity's "voice."

Rover faults out

When Opportunity experiences a problem, it can go into so-called "fault modes" where it automatically takes action to maintain its health.

Engineers are preparing for three key fault modes if they do hear back from Opportunity.

– Low-power fault: engineers assume the rover went into low-power fault shortly after it stopped communicating on June 10. This mode causes the rover to hibernate, assuming that it will wake up at a time when there's more sunlight to let it recharge.

– Clock fault: critical to operating while in hibernation is the rover's onboard clock. If the rover doesn't know what time it is, it doesn't know when it should be attempting to communicate. The rover can use environmental clues, like an increase in sunlight, to make assumptions about the time.

– Uploss fault: when the rover hasn't heard from Earth in a long time, it can go into "uploss" fault – a warning that its communication equipment may not be functioning. When it experiences this, it begins to check the equipment and tries different ways to communicate with Earth.

What happens if they hear back?

After the first time engineers hear from Opportunity, there could be a lag of several weeks before a second time. It's like a patient coming out of a coma: It takes time to fully recover. It may take several communication sessions before engineers have enough information to take action.

The first thing to do is learn more about the state of the rover. Opportunity's team will ask for a history of the rover's battery and solar cells and take its temperature.

If the clock lost track of time, it will be reset. The rover would take pictures of itself to see whether dust might be caked on sensitive parts, and test actuators to see if dust slipped inside, affecting its joints.

Once they've gathered all this data, the team would take a poll about whether they're ready to attempt a full recovery.

Not out of the woods

Even if engineers hear back from Opportunity, there's a real possibility the rover won’t be the same.

The rover's batteries could have discharged so much power – and stayed inactive so long – that their capacity is reduced. If those batteries can’t hold as much charge, it could affect the rover’s continued operations. It could also mean that energy-draining behavior, like running its heaters during winter, could cause the batteries to brown out.

Dust isn’t usually as much of a problem. Previous storms plastered dust on the camera lenses, but most of that was shed off over time. Any remaining dust can be calibrated out.

Do you miss Opportunity as much as the rover's team? You can write a message sharing your thoughts here.

Read more about Opportunity at https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/highlights/.
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North Coast Opportunities Inc. staff recently received a proclamation for its 50th anniversary from the Lake County Board of Supervisors in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.


NORTH COAST, Calif. – Join North Coast Opportunities Inc. and staff, along with Sen. Mike McGuire, NCO clients, community supporters, local officials and the broader community for an open-air picnic in honor of 50 years of community action.

The family-friendly, class reunion-style celebration will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Todd Grove Park in Ukiah.

Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy a variety of activities and giveaways.

The first 100 people to register online will earn one free pool pass to the Ukiah Municipal Swimming Pool.

A range of free family activities will be available. Local DJ Lucas Boek will be spinning tunes for a day of entertainment.

A bounce house, sack races, face painting, bubble machine, tug-of-war, ring toss, and more, will entertain the whole family. Join Jessica’s Costume Character Party and meet Harry Potter, Where’s Waldo, Alice in Wonderland and Jessie from Toy Story.

Jannah Minnix from the Ukiah Children’s Library will delight young readers with a special story time.

NCO’s History Walk will showcase 50 years of community action through programs and services, and guests will have a unique opportunity to explore how NCO has impacted Lake, Mendocino and neighboring counties.

Highlighted programs will include: Community Wellness (Caring Kitchen, Lake County Community Action, Walk and Bike Mendocino, etc.) Disaster Response, Head Start, Leadership Mendocino, Redwood Caregiver Resources Center, Rural Communities Childcare, and Volunteer Network (Foster Grandparents, VITA, etc.).

Those who complete the History Walk will be eligible to spin the NCO Prize Wheel, which boasts a range of prizes. Win a gift certificate to Black Oak Coffee Roasters, Chipotle, Grocery Outlet, In-and-Out Burger, Oco Time Restaurant, Regal Cinemas, the Skunk Train, Slam Dunk Pizza, Standford Inn/Catch-a-Canoe & Bicycles, Thurston Auto Plaza, Ukiah Players Theater, Ukiah Valley Athletic Club, and Willits Furniture.

Other prizes will include hand painted bowls courtesy of Jan Hoyman, cookbooks, flashlights from Rod Shoes, organic produce from the Mendo Lake Food Hub, NCO vinyl bags, and Ukiah Municpal pool passes courtesy of Redwood Credit Union and Realty World/Selzer Realty.

Local artist Tim Poma will lead an interactive mural painting project. Past and present clients, staff, NCO Board members, community members, and NCO supporters are invited to put their hands in the paint.

Attendees are encouraged to paint on the mural, leaving a visual representation of community connections, together creating a mosaic to symbolize our communities. The mural will be later displayed at the NCO office for all to enjoy.

Bring your own picnic, blanket, and chairs. Lounge in the sun or by the pool. Purchase food from Pilon Kitchen, the City of 10,000 Buddhas, or buy a sandwich from Schat’s Bakery.

NCO is the Community Action Agency that serves Lake and Mendocino counties, as well as parts of Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte, and Solano counties.

NCO was established in 1968 as part of President Johnson's War on Poverty, with the mission of assisting low-income and disadvantaged people to become self-reliant. NCO reacts to community needs, including disaster response, and has been called to action to serve in the aftermath of the recent wildfires. NCO’s goal is to have healthy, vibrant, compassionate, and strong communities.

For more information about the 50th Anniversary Celebration, including a full list of activities and prizes, and to register for a chance to win one free pool pass, visit www.ncoinc.org or call 707-467-3200.

Robyn Bera works for North Coast Opportunities.
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Bob Hipkiss (left) and Bob Jordan (right) present a donation to Ginny Craven of Operation Tango Mike. Photo by Ron Quick.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Operation Tango Mike announced that Clearlake Callayomi Masonic Lodge No. 183, located at 7100 South Center Drive in Clearlake, has chosen to partner with the troop support mission.

The lodge hosts monthly breakfasts on the third Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m., and will accept donations of goods or funds on behalf of Operation Tango Mike.

Choose your breakfast from a large menu including, eggs (any style), omelets, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, hot cakes, breakfast meat, toast, juice and coffee.

Breakfast is served from 8 to 11 a.m. The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under age 6 may eat for free and are served a special “kid’s” breakfast.

Operation Tango Mike achieved a milestone in March, having shipped more than 20,000 care packages to deployed military personnel.

The mission continues and relies on donations and fundraising.

On Saturday, the Lakeside Car and Boat Show, benefitting Operation Tango Mike, was held at Lakeport’s Library Park.

Donations are always welcome and may be made at Umpqua Bank in Lakeport or Kelseyville, by mail at 5216 Piner Court, Kelseyville, CA 954561 or by PayPal at www.operationtangomike.org.

For further information call 707-349-2838.

Harlan Orrin, former owner of AquaCraft, north of Lakeport, Calif. He traveled from San Diego for the 2017 Lakeside Car and Boat Show. Photo by Ginny Craven.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters curtailed growth on the Mendocino Complex on Saturday, strengthening the lines around it and edging it closer to full containment.

Cal Fire said the complex was up to 383,690 acres, increasing by just under 4,000 acres in the previous 24-hour period. Containment rose to 79 percent by Saturday night.

The Ranch fire portion of the complex continues to actively burn; it was up to 334,770 acres, with its containment at 76 percent, Cal Fire said. The River fire has been fully contained since Monday evening at 48,920 acres.

Resources said there are approximately 3,439 firefighters assigned to the incident, including 188 engines, 86 water tenders, 21 helicopters, 74 hand crews and 63 dozers.

Firefighters made progress on the incident on Saturday thanks to smoky conditions and light winds, which Cal Fire said allowed them to continue constructing containment line and mopping up with less active fire behavior on the northern side of the Ranch fire. Aircraft also continued to work on the fire as conditions permitted.

Cal Fire said some fire activity was noted on the northeast side of the fire near Goat Mountain Road; however, it was within the fire perimeter.

Firing operations will continue if weather allows, and as the evening progresses, fire crews and dozers will continue their efforts to build containment lines and mop up, Cal Fire said.

Patrol and suppression repair continue on both the southern portion of the Ranch fire and the contained River fire area, Cal Fire said.

The damage assessment numbers on the complex remained unchanged on Saturday evening: 277 destroyed (157 residences, 120 others); 37 damaged (13 residences, 24 other buildings).

Cal Fire said that on Saturday, 1,050 structures remained threatened by the Ranch fire.

The cause of the fires, burning since July 27, remain under investigation, officials said.

Firefighters appear to remain on target for Cal Fire’s estimated containment date of Sept. 1.

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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When visiting a cemetery, besides hopefully seeing beautifully manicured lawns, you often see family members who are buried alongside one another.

These are family plots with multiple internment spaces. How are family cemetery plots owned and transferred, and who can be interred in an available space?

Title to a cemetery plot is either in the form of a deed to real property or a certificate of ownership issued by the cemetery.

In California, the owner and also the owner’s spouse each have a vested right of interment if when they were married there were at least two available internment spaces.

The same rule applies to any subsequent spouses. If the cemetery plot is purchased by two or more owners as joint tenants, each joint tenant has a vested right of interment. Subsequent owners take subject to vested rights of internment.

Thus, even if a married owner sells the cemetery plot, the new owner takes subject to the spouse’s vested right of interment. Exceptions exist if the owner’s spouse also joined in or consented to the sale, waived his or her internment right, was divested of the right in a divorce decree from the owner of the family plot, or if the spouse died and is buried elsewhere.

Unused internment spaces in a family plot can also be used to inter the remains of the owner’s deceased parents and deceased children.

Although parents and children do not have vested right, unlike the owner and the owner’s surviving spouse, they may be interred based on their order of death and subject to availability of internment spaces.

If no parent or child survives, the right of interment goes in the order of death first, to the spouse of any child of the record owner and second, in the order of death to the next heirs at law of the owner or the spouse of any heir at law.

Prior to 2002, if the remains of the deceased owner or his or her family were buried in a family cemetery plot and additional internment spaces remained unoccupied then the entire family plot became inalienable after the owner died.

Any surviving family members) who became the owner(s) of the family plot could neither transfer nor sell the inherited plot.

The California Legislature considered this automatic restraint on alienation – absent of any expressed intent by the deceased owner – outdated law.

Nowadays, with families no longer remaining in the same county, the surviving family members who inherit the plot often want to sell the unused burial places.

Section 8650 of California Health and Safety Code as amended provides that, “any unoccupied portions of a family plot that became inalienable pursuant to this section as it read on December 31, 2001, shall no longer be inalienable and shall pass according to the laws of intestate succession … .”

If the deceased owner did not specifically devise (gift) the family plot in his or her will to someone and did not transfer the family plot to the cemetery in order to make the family plot inalienable, the deceased owner’s heirs (often a surviving spouse and/or surviving children) inherit the plot.

The heirs just provide the cemetery with an affidavit as to the death of the deceased owner (attaching the certified death certificate) to transfer title. They can then sell the unused internment spaces subject to any vested rights of internments or waiver thereof.

When multiple persons own a family plot – either joint purchasers or as the heirs of the original owner – they should collectively designate one person as their plot representative. Otherwise, the cemetery could inter a person at the request of any owner without consultation with the other owners.

Even when all internment spaces are occupied it is still good for a surviving family member to be the record owner.

As owner, the living family member can deal with issues related to the care and maintenance of the family plot and other issues where the cemetery needs to involve an owner. That way the interred family members can hopefully rest in peace.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 707-263-3235. His Web site is www.DennisFordhamLaw.com.
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Damage from the Ranch fire on the Mendocino National Forest’s Upper Lake Ranger District in Upper Lake, Calif. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – U.S. Forest Service officials announced that the Burned Area Emergency Response, or BAER, team is getting established in Upper Lake to start working on its assessment and recommendations to lessen immediate hazards to public resources from effects of the Ranch fire.

The BAER team is made up of specialists from various disciplines; including hydrologists, soil scientists, geologists, road engineers, ecologists, botanists and archaeologists.

Team members have already started assessing the fire area to address potential risks related to life and property, water quality and critical plant and wildlife habitat.

“I'm glad to have some of the most talented resource specialists here to help us. Team members have a challenge ahead, they have our support and we're grateful they are here,” Upper Lake District Ranger Frank Aebly said.

The purpose of the BAER assessment is to analyze fire effects on soils and watersheds, determine the potential for negative effects, and consider possible treatment options.

The threat to life and property is always the No. 1 concern and is the first focus of the burned area assessment. Forest roads are also a major concern from flooding and rocks falling onto the road bed.

Soil productivity, water quality, and cultural resources are at risk when wildland fires are followed by large storms, particularly during the first and second year after the fire.

The loss of natural vegetative cover allows water to runoff across bare soils with increased velocity. Fire also induces water repellency of varying degrees, reducing water infiltration, and increasing runoff.

The net result under extreme conditions is a loss of soil, a loss of water control, and significant risk of floods and debris flows downstream of the fire.

The Ranch fire started July 27 approximately eight miles northeast of Ukiah. As of Saturday night, it was estimated at 334,770 acres and 76-percent contained. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two mosquito samples collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile virus this week.

The mosquitoes, Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito), were collected near Upper Lake Aug. 9 and 14.

“The smoke and wildfires don’t affect West Nile virus,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., District manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “Despite the smoky air, mosquitoes are still biting.”

“If you plan to be outside when mosquitoes are active, use insect repellent applied according the directions on the label and reapply as directed,” said Lake County Deputy Health Officer Erin Gustafson.

Dr. Gustafson also encourages residents, “Wear long pants and long sleeves, and residents can treat items, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents, with permethrin or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Residents should also sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.”

The district encourages residents to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by:

– Dumping or draining standing water to prevent mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle.
– Defending yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow the label directions.
– Avoiding the outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.

So far this year, West Nile virus activity has been detected in four mosquito samples in Lake County.

Statewide, 33 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquitoes. Nineteen human cases of West Nile virus illness have been reported in California residents this year.

Most people (80%) with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. About one in five people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint, pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.

Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

About 1 in 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop severe illness which causes inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. Recovery from severe illness can take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) might be permanent.

In about one out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, the infection can be fatal.

People over age 60 and those with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, kidney disease, and people have received organ transplants are at greatest risk of severe disease.

The most recent confirmed case of WNV infection in Lake County was in 2016.

Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).

· Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
· Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
· Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.
· About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.

Diagnosis

· See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above.
· Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection.
· To learn more about testing, visit the Healthcare Providers page.

Treatment

· No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection are available.
· Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms
· In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.
· If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease, talk with your health care provider.
· To learn more about treatment, visit the Healthcare Providers page.

Mosquitoes that transmit WNV develop in the water in out-of-service swimming pools and spas, animal watering troughs, ornamental ponds, rain barrels, and other sources of standing water. Residents can get mosquito-eating fish for these sources free of charge from the District.

Swimming pools and spas that aren’t being maintained can produce thousands of biting mosquitoes every day. Residents can help reduce mosquitoes in their neighborhoods by reporting unmaintained pools to the District, Dr. Scott recommends.

Residents with questions or who would like help with a mosquito problem, including reporting a neglected pool or spa, should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707- 263-4770 or visit www.lcvcd.org.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov/.

Information about mosquito repellents can be found on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html.
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The sun. It inspires songs, warms us and grows our food.

Life on land and in the oceans, the daily weather, and long-term climate patterns happen primarily because of energy we receive from our closest star.

Even tiny variations in that energy can affect the workings of our planet’s atmosphere. NASA uses instruments to “follow the Sun,” and monitor the amount of solar energy coming to us.

The latest instrument to do so – the Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS–1) – makes those measurements with unprecedented accuracy.

TSIS gathers information from its perch aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Flying on the platform that the orbiting laboratory provides has allowed TSIS to continue NASA’s 40-year record of tracking the sun’s radiant energy – one of the longest and most important climate data records gathered from space.

Over the past several decades, Earth’s ice mass has diminished, sea levels have risen, drought and precipitation patterns have changed, and growing seasons have shifted.

To understand the causes – including human influences – of these changes, and to refine the models used to simulate Earth’s climate, researchers must know the amount of incoming solar energy.

Peter Pilewskie, TSIS lead mission scientist explains, “When there’s a balance between incoming energy from the sun and the infrared radiation Earth emits, climate remains steady. An imbalance means energy is either being stored in the system, causing temperature increases, or lost, causing temperature decreases.”

Energy from the sun makes up half of the balance equation. Even though the measurement record shows that the sun’s solar energy output has not had a major influence in recent climate change, that output needs to be monitored continuously.

“It is arguably the most important variable we need to know to understand climate,” said Pilewskie. “Trying to understand climate without measuring the sun's input is like trying to balance your checkbook without knowing your income.”

“Climate is measured over long time spans – decades to centuries and longer, unlike weather that changes over small time scales. To be able to connect measurements over long time periods, continuity and accuracy are key,” Pilewskie said.

TSIS has two sensors. The Total Irradiance Monitor, as its name suggests, measures all of the radiant energy from the sun, and the Spectral Irradiance Monitor measures how that energy is distributed over ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths. The latter helps scientists understand where in the atmosphere solar energy is being absorbed.

For example, TSIS spectral irradiance measurements of the sun's ultraviolet radiation are critical to understanding the ozone layer. Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet light. This heats the stratosphere and drives changes in atmospheric wind flow that can propagate down to the lower atmosphere and impact climate.

“So many factors influence Earth’s climate,” said Pilewskie. “We need to continue learning how they all interact. TSIS is helping us characterize the sun’s behavior and how Earth’s atmosphere responds to the Sun.”

For more science from the International Space Station, go to www.nasa.gov/iss-science.

To continue following our closest star – visit http://science.nasa.gov.

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