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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s Veterans Day celebration will be held at Konocti Vista Casino on Sunday, Nov. 11.

The event begins at 11 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.

Veterans, their families and all supporters in the community are invited to to celebrate those who have served our country.

Annual past participants have included 4-H members, Lake County veteran organizations and the Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County.

The Veterans Day ceremony will include presentations of the County’s annual “Friend of the Veteran” and United Veterans Council’s “Veteran of the Year” awards.

Through the generosity of Konocti Vista Casino, a complimentary lunch and beverages will be provided to those in attendance.

Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration and honoring of America’s veterans.

Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.

You may call 707-349-2838 for further information.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Another red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to high winds and fire danger has caused Cal Fire to once again increase staffing, with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. warning that it could shut off power to thousands of Lake County customers.

The National Weather Service issued the red flag warning for Lake, Colusa, Napa, Sonoma, Solano and Yolo counties from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Friday.

Overnight Wednesday and into early Thursday, winds are expected to reach 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts of between 30 and 40 miles per hour across the highest peaks, forecasters said. Those gusty winds – combined with already critically low relative humidity and very dry fuels will create critical fire weather conditions.

The forecast calls for winds to decrease on Friday morning but very dry conditions will continue.

The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said that it has bolstered its firefighting resources in response to the red flag event.

The additional resources Cal Fire has at the ready includes two helicopters, round-the-clock staffing of all fire crews and bulldozers, and personnel to fulfill emergency command center and related functions in case a major fire should occur.

Because of the potential for high winds and fire danger, PG&E is notifying 63,000 customers in eight counties – including Lake – that power may be cut beginning on Thursday.

The company said the public safety power shutoff could impact areas of Lake County including Clearlake Oaks, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville and Middletown.

Other areas of Northern California that are being notified of the potential shutoff include:

• Butte County (including Berry Creek, Chico, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise);
• Napa County (including Angwin, Pope Valley, St. Helena);
• Nevada County (including Grass Valley, Nevada City, North San Juan);
• Placer County (including Colfax, Foresthill, Alta);
• Plumas County (including La Porte);
• Sierra County (including Downieville, Sierra City);
• Yuba County (including Brownsville, Dobbins, Camptonville).

Customers can learn whether their home or business could be impacted by visiting www.pge.com/wildfiresafety .

This story has been updated to remove Sonoma County and update the number of anticipated customers, based on new information from PG&E.

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. – Tuesday’s preliminary results in the race for Clearlake City Council show a city planning commissioner and a recently appointed councilman as the top vote-getters.

With early absentees and nine precincts reporting, Dirk Slooten and Russell Cremer were ahead of Russell Perdock in the race to gain two available seats on the five-member council.

The results reported overnight by the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office are preliminary until the official canvass is completed in one month.

Slooten, a planning commissioner, retired businessman and Rotarian who has been instrumental in raising money for community fire relief, led the field based on Tuesday night’s returns.

He led in the early absentee count, with his lead growing as precinct ballots were counted, for a total preliminary tally of 1,144 ballots, or 40 percent.

Cremer came in with 1,015 votes, or 35.5 percent, followed by Perdock with 688 votes, or 24 percent.

Perdock served just over three years of a four-year term on the council before he resigned in February in order to pursue the Clearlake Police chief job, as Lake County News has reported. Both Slooten and Cremer and applied to fill the vacancy, with the council ultimately appointing Cremer.

On the ballot Tuesday were the two seats currently held by Cremer as well as Mayor Bruno Sabatier, who in June was elected to be District 2’s next representative on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

Also on the ballot in Clearlake on Tuesday was the city treasurer’s job, for which no candidates applied. It has been filled by city staff for several years and city voters so far haven’t approved making it an appointed position, as they did for the city clerk’s job.

In other election news, early results showed that in the race for the Redbud Health Care District’s Zone 2 director’s seat, Sandra M. Richards led the voting with 362 ballots, or 58.2 percent, followed by Brice Trask, 162 votes or 26 percent, and Mark Burkdoll, with 97 votes or 15.6 percent.

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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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Thursday afternoon that it will not proceed with plans for a public safety power shutoff in portions of eight Northern California counties – including Lake – as weather conditions did not warrant it.

On Tuesday, PG&E began notifying approximately 70,000 customers in portions of Northern California of the potential that the company would turn off power for safety given forecasts of extreme fire danger conditions.

PG&E said it will now notify customers directly via automated calls, texts and emails that the potential public safety power shutoff has been canceled.

“We want to thank our customers for their understanding and for their actions in preparation of a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff. We know how much our customers rely on electric service, and we will only consider temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety and as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire,” said Pat Hogan, PG&E senior vice president of Electric Operations.

PG&E continues to remind customers who live in high-fire-danger areas to have a plan. Customers can learn whether their home or business is in or near a high fire-threat area by reviewing the California Public Utilities Commission’s High Fire-Threat District map. They can also visit www.pge.com/wildfiresafety to determine whether their home or business is served by an electric line that may be turned off for safety.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and the city of Clearlake will host the 2018 Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake will be decked out with Christmas magic as merry members of the community compete for the first-place parade entry.

The parade will end with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Austin Park.

The parade will take place on at 6 p.m. and will go from Redbud Park down Lakeshore Drive to Austin Park. There will be plenty of free parking around Austin Park but getting there early is always ensures a good spot.

“Judging by the amazing response, this year’s parade looks like it’s going to be a hit,” said Patrick Prather of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Prather urged community members to register for the parade online, visit the chamber on Facebook or contact the Chamber for details.

“Also, please stick around after the parade for the tree lighting ceremony and pictures with Santa,” Prather said.

“We are taking it up a notch this year with more lights at City Hall and the Visitor’s Center. This is a great event every year and this year looks to be the best so far,” said Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom.

For more information contact the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce at 707-994-3600.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Voters on Tuesday voted for board seats in school and college districts around Lake County, and in one heated race favored three challengers over longtime incumbents.

The results from Tuesday’s election that were reported overnight by the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office are preliminary until the official canvass is completed in one month.

While there were numerous education-related races on the ballot, the one that emerged as the most contentious was that of the Lakeport Unified School District, with issues ranging from the district’s failure to use bond funds to build a new swimming pool to matters of discipline and personnel.

Carly Alvord, Jennifer Hanson and Dan Buffalo ran together on a platform aimed at fixing the district, and the early numbers – including early absentees and all 12 precincts – suggest that the three will win their seats on the board.

Alvord and Hanson raced along with incumbent Tom Powers for two four-year seats. Alvord received 1,583 votes, or 39.2 percent, followed by Hanson with 1,507 votes, or 37.3 percent, and Powers, 753 votes, or 18.6 percent.

Dan Camacho ran as a write-in candidate for the four-year seats. There were 197 votes, or 4.9 percent, cast for write-ins, although the Tuesday night returns did not specify how many of those votes were for Camacho.

Buffalo and incumbent Dennis Darling were in the running for a seat with two years remaining from an unexpired term. Buffalo received 1,418 votes, or 58.3 percent, to Darling’s 1,002 votes, or 41.2 percent.

In the race for three seats on the Konocti Unified School District Board of Trustees, with 28 precincts reporting, Joan Mingori was the top vote-getter with 1,881 votes or 26.5 percent, followed by Bill Diener, 1,834 votes, 25.8 percent; Pamela Bening-Hale, 1,822 votes, 25.7 percent; and Herb Gura, 1,539 votes, 21.7 percent.

The Middletown Unified School District Board has three available seats and a four-person race. With 11 precincts reporting, Larry Allen led the field with 1,270 votes or 30.6 percent, followed by Latrease Walker, 1,068 votes, 25.8 percent; Thad R. Owens, 1,037 votes, 25 percent; and Christina Braden, 763 votes, 18.4 percent.

The Upper Lake Unified School District Board had all five of its seats on the ballot, and six people seeking them.

The preliminary count of early absentees and 12 precincts saw Ron Raetz bring in the most votes, 1,009, with 19.8 percent, followed by Ana Santana, 940 votes, 18.4 percent; Diane Tomkins Plante, 880 votes, 17.3 percent; Frank Gudmundson, 780 votes, 15.3 percent; Claudine Pedroncelli, 758 votes, 14.9 percent; and Don Meri, 712 votes, 14 percent.

In other education races, the preliminary voting results show Denise Loustalot leading Joanne Breton in the race for Trustee Area No. 3 on the Lake County Board of Education. With 18 precincts reporting, Loustalot had 1,164 votes, or 50.3 percent, with Breton receiving 1,139 votes, or 49.2 percent.

Madelene Lyon, incumbent for Trustee Area No. 5 on the Lake County Board of Education, received 1,300 votes or 50 percent of the vote in her reelection bid, followed closely by challenger Anna Rose Ravenwood with 1,285 votes, or 49.4 percent.

For the Mendocino-Lake Community College District Trustee Area No. 5, Philip “Ed” Nickerman led with 532 votes, or 55.2 percent, followed by Camille Schraeder, with 426 votes, or 44.2 percent.

Also on the ballot was the seat representing the Mendocino-Lake Community College District Trustee Area No. 6. Incumbent John H. Tomkins appears to have been reelected, with 1,583 votes, or 58.6 percent, to the 1,103 votes, or 40.9 percent, received by challenger Andy Anderson.

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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Smoke from the Butte fire spread across Northern California on Thursday, November 8, 2018. Satellite image courtesy of NASA.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The smoke that has poured into Lake County’s air basin, giving the sky an alarming sepia tone, is from a fire in Butte County, the Lake County Air Quality Management District reported Thursday morning.

Air Pollution Control Officer Douglas Gearhart said the smoke and haze currently impacting many areas of Lake County is primarily the result of the Camp fire in Butte County.

Cal Fire said the Camp fire began just after 6:30 a.m. Thursday on Pulga Road at Camp Creek Road near Jarbo Gap in Butte County. It was reported to have burned 5,000 acres by late Thursday morning and had led to the calls for evacuations in the area.

Mendocino County officials also issued an alert to residents about the smoke, which has continued to move west.

Gearhart said all areas of Lake County are forecast to have periods of “unhealthy” conditions depending on the wind. These conditions are expected to impact Lake County through tomorrow and intermittently until the fires are out.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District is actively monitoring the smoke impacts throughout the county, Gearhart said. Go to www.lcaqmd.net and follow the link to ‘Current Air Quality Index’ for current particulate levels.

Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “good” to “unhealthy.” Gearhart said similar conditions are expected to continue depending on the weather pattern. When particulate levels reach “unhealthy” levels, everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves from exposure.

All areas of Lake County may experience “unhealthy” air quality as smoke settles into the basin, Gearhart said.

Conditions can change quickly. Smokey conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be especially hazardous for sensitive individuals including children, teenagers, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should carefully adhere to their medical treatment plans and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications, according to Gearhart’s report.

Gearhart said such individuals should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion while smoke is present. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available. Drinking plenty of water to avoid drying of the airways is recommended, unless restricted for medical reasons.

When conditions reach unhealthy levels, people are recommended to use caution, avoid strenuous activity, avoid outdoor activities, and reduce other sources of air pollution (such as smoking, use of aerosol products, frying or broiling meats, burning candles, vacuuming, etc.) and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

If you cannot leave the smoky area, good ways to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke include staying indoors, changing your indoor air filters, using a HEPA air filter, and reducing physical activity, according to Gearhart.

Gearhart said that wearing an air purifying respirator can also help protect your lungs from wildfire smoke. Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 or P100 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing some of the harmful particulate matter, but they also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.

Dust masks and medical masks are not protective against the ultra fine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke, Gearhart said.

Localized areas in the unhealthy air quality range can be expected into Friday, and intermittently until the fire is out. Gearhart advised taking appropriate measures until the smoke clears.

Smoke from the Butte fire darkening the sky in Upper Lake, Calif. Photo by Gary Madison.
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To decrease deaths and injuries caused by speed and aggressive driving, two of California’s main contributors in traffic collisions, the California Highway Patrol has begun a year-long, grant-funded education and enforcement campaign.

The primary goal of the Regulate Aggressive Driving and Reduce Speed, or RADARS, III grant is to reduce the number of collisions where speed, improper turning, and driving on the wrong side of the road are the primary factors leading to death or injury.

This grant will enable the CHP to provide more enforcement and education to motorists about the dangers of aggressive driving.

“Speed is the number one cause of traffic collisions in California,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “With this grant, the California Highway Patrol will strive to change this dangerous behavior through increased enforcement and education.”

In Federal Fiscal Year 2015-2016, speed was a factor in approximately 45 percent of all fatal and injury collisions in the state. That year, more than 36,000 speed-related collisions resulted in the death of more than 370 people and the injury of nearly 53,000 people.

Street racing and sideshows, an increasing problem now spreading to major traffic arteries, are also addressed through the RADARS III grant.

An active public awareness campaign and enhanced enforcement, which will deploy additional officers to provide more patrols to affected areas, will focus on the expanding problem.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. reported on Tuesday night that it may once again shut off power to thousands of Northern California customers – including many in parts of Lake County – due to weather conditions.

The company said it was considering the action – beginning on Thursday, Nov. 8 – due to expected extreme fire danger conditions, including the red flag warning from the National Weather Service and several other weather factors.

Counties that could be impacted are Butte, Lake, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sonoma and Yuba, PG&E said.

Gusty northeast winds are expected late Wednesday through Thursday primarily in the Sacramento Valley, western slopes of northern Sierra and the North Bay hills.

Customers can visit www.pge.com/wildfiresafety to determine whether their home or business is served by an electric line that may be turned off for safety.

PG&E had carried out its first-ever “public safety power shutoff” from Oct. 14 to 17, as Lake County News has reported due to a forecast of extreme fire danger.

"We know how much our customers rely on electric service and the impacts these events can have on our customers, their families and communities. We will only consider temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety and as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire," said Pat Hogan, senior vice president of Electric Operations.

Factors that PG&E considers when deciding to initiate a public safety power shutoff include strong winds, very low humidity levels, critically dry vegetation and on-the-ground observations.

PG&E is working closely with first responders and state and local agencies to keep them apprised of our response to the evolving weather conditions.

The company said it started sending out automated voice messages, texts and emails to customers on Tuesday alerting them to a potential power shutoff.

Due to forecasted high winds and dry vegetation, PG&E may temporarily turn off power in portions of the following communities:

PG&E meteorologists will continue to monitor weather conditions as they evolve. The company said it will have additional details on affected areas as weather reports become available.

Customers are urged to make sure their contact information is up-to-date by visiting www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts, or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tuesday’s preliminary election returns show that four of the five local ballot measures appear to have received the required number of votes to pass.

The results reported so far by the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office are preliminary until the official canvass is completed in one month, as thousands of ballots remain to be counted.

Measures on the ballot included school bonds H, for the Middletown Unified School District, and I and J, for the Upper Lake Unified School District; the county’s Measure K, which would institute a cannabis business tax in the unincorporated county; and Measure L, a special benefit tax for the South Lake County Fire District.

The school bond measures all require at least a 55-percent approval from voters, while Measure K needs a simple majority and Measure L needs a super majority of at least 66.7 percent to pass.

With the exception of Measure L, preliminary ballot tallies showed that all of the measures had gained the necessary number of votes to pass.

The following is a breakdown of each of the measures and the vote counts so far.

Measure H

According to the ballot analysis, Measure H is a $28 million bond that aims “to replace Middletown Unified’s outdated portables and construct permanent 21st century learning environments, modernize existing classrooms, enhance student safety and security, upgrade school grounds, and improve career technical and ag facilities.”

It will have an estimated annual average tax levy of $1,623,000 for 35 years and a projected tax rate of 6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, with an independent citizens' oversight committee, annual audits, and no money for administrator salaries.

With early absentees and all 11 Middletown Unified voting precincts counted, the measure had received a yes vote of 57.9 percent, or 1,254 ballots cast in its favor, versus 912 no votes, which accounted for 42.1 percent.

Measure I

Measure I, also known as the “Upper Lake Unified School District High School Renovation and Modernization Measure,” is a $10 million bond that would raise an average of $527,000 annually to repay bonds through maturity from levies of approximately three cents per $100 of assessed
valuation.

The funding would be used “to construct and modernize classrooms, upgrade career
Technology education, enhance safety/security, provide 21st century learning environments at Upper Lake High School, and provide the local match for State grants,” according to the ballot analysis.

It also would require citizens oversight and audits, and no money for administrator salaries.

Preliminary voting results from 12 voting precincts and absentees showed Measure I receiving a yes vote of 62.6 percent, or 1,106 ballots cast in favor, compared to a no vote of 37.4 percent, or 607 ballots.

Measure J

Upper Lake Unified School District also asked voters to support Measure J, also known as the “Upper Lake Unified School District School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 (K-8 Area) Elementary and Middle School Renovation and Modernization Measure.”

It’s a $12 million ballot that would raise an average of $665,000 annually to repay bonds through
maturity from levies of approximately six cents per $100 of assessed valuation, also with a citizens oversight and audits, and no money used for administrator salaries.

The ballot analysis states it’s “to construct, modernize and rehabilitate K-8 classrooms,
improve access to modern technology, install shade structures, improve play areas, enhance safety/security, and provide the local match for State grants.”

So far, early absentees and voters in seven precincts appear to have approved it. Preliminary results show a yes vote of 62.2 percent, or 624 ballots, versus a 37.8 percent no vote, or 379 ballots count.

Measure K

The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to put Measure K – or the Cannabis Business Tax
Ordinance – before voters.

The measure is a tax on commercial cannabis businesses that requires only a simple majority, and will go into effect in the unincorporated county on Jan. 1, 2021, if approved.

Measure K will impose an annual tax of $1 per square foot for nursery cultivation, 4 percent of gross receipts on a cannabis dispensary, microbusiness or delivery business, and 2.5 percent of
gross receipts on a cannabis manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution or other type of cannabis business, based on the ballot language. The tax will not be applied to testing laboratories.

The measure also allows for an annual increase – but no decrease – based on the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco County area.

The preliminary voting results show Measure K had 6,735 ballots, or 69.4 percent, cast in its favor, with no votes totaling 2,976 ballots, or 30.6 percent.

Measure L

Measure L seeks to impose a special tax on residents in the South Lake County Fire Protection District “in order to continue to provide sufficient funding for fire and emergency medical services,” according to the ballot language.

It would increase the district’s appropriations limit and assess a maximum rate of $10 per benefit unit.

The measure assigns different benefit unit values to particular properties, such as 16 units for vacant land of up to an acre and 20 units for vacant land of 10 acres or more. Orchards, vineyards and field crops are assessed at similar rates, with single family dwellings assessed at 20 benefit units, duplexes at 40 units, convalescent and rest homes at 70 units.

Commercial units of 999 square feet and below are 165 benefit units, with a range for larger buildings that tops out at 250 benefit units for buildings of 10,000 square feet or more.

The measure requires a supermajority vote of 66.7 percent.

The preliminary voting returns show that the measure is just below the threshold, with 66.2 percent, or 1,694 yes votes, cast, while 866 voters, or 33.8 percent, voted against it.

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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Shanda Harry. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Tuesday, Lake County’s voters elected the second woman to serve as judge in the county’s 157-year history.

Shanda Harry, a deputy county counsel for the county of Lake, ended the night with a preliminary vote count that gave her an 18-percent lead over District Attorney Don Anderson in the race for Lake County Superior Court judge.

“I think it’s incredible,” she said of the results late Tuesday night, adding, “I’m going from cautiously optimistic to being extremely optimistic.”

She said she started out with “nobody knowing who I was,” which made the Tuesday outcome all the more exciting.

With early absentees and 70 precincts counted, Harry received 7,333 votes, or 58.8 percent, while Anderson received 5,080 votes, or 40.8 percent.

The results remain preliminary until the official canvass is completed in one month, but even with thousands of ballots remaining to be counted, Harry’s lead over Anderson appears to be statistically insurmountable.

Lake County News was unable to reach Anderson for comment late Tuesday.

Harry, 45, now becomes the second woman elected judge in Lake County. The first was Judge Betty Irwin, elected in 1982 as a write-in candidate to the justice court. Irwin died in 2013.

In the race to succeed Judge Stephen Hedstrom – who chose not to run for reelection after this third term ends this year – Harry had been the top vote-getter over Anderson and attorney Andre Ross in the June primary.

In the months since, as she and Anderson went into a runoff, she had attended a seemingly endless stream of events in an effort to get to know Lake County’s voters and participated in debates with Anderson, including one Lake County News hosted on Oct. 3.

“It’s been kind of crazy,” she said of her schedule, estimating she attended about 10 events a week – including spending several nights a week campaigning – while holding down a full-time job and raising a young daughter.

Harry said her challenge from the beginning was name recognition. That was not a small concern, considering her opponent was Anderson, now nearing the end of his second term as Lake County’s district attorney.

She said she was convinced that if she could sit down and talk with every voter and explain her qualifications, she could convince them to vote for her.

She had help from her family in the campaign, with her father creating her signs and her mother handling the accounting.

Harry said her mother isn’t a crier, but in watching the Tuesday night results come in, she said her mother wept with relief and, more importantly, told her that she was thankful she had run for judge because it exposed her to many new things as well.

While the local judicial race had its specific issues, Harry acknowledged the larger nationwide canvas her race is set against, as more women have sought – and been elected to – public office in 2018.

She said she heard from a lot of people that they were glad women were stepping up. “I do think that in general people were looking for diversity,” she said.

Noting that women are well represented in the judiciary across the state, but not so locally, Harry said, “It was time for Lake County to have a female judge on the bench.”

Even if she hadn’t won, Harry said she would have found the experience of getting to know Lake County better as worthwhile.

However, now she is focusing on what has to come next as she prepares to take on her new role as judge early in the new year.

Harry said she needs to spend the next month closing out projects in the County Counsel’s Office. “That’s really my focus right now, is to make sure I don’t leave anything hanging.”

She said she will meet with the local judges to find out what the plan is in terms of what type of cases she will be handling so she can get a jumpstart on being ready.

Harry said she’s spoken several times already to Judge Hedstrom – in whose court she practices most often – and expects to do so again in the coming weeks.

If she were to take over Hedstrom’s docket, it would be the most familiar for her, but Harry said that when she last spoke to Presiding Judge Andrew Blum, he had indicated there would be changes in assignments.

In the last months before she takes the bench, there will also be some focused family time with her daughter. “My daughter is really happy to have me back in the evenings,” Harry said.

And, admitting that it will sound like what winning athletes say after big competitions, she added, “I am taking my daughter to Disneyland because she has been a trooper through all of this.”

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 Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College is hosting a celebration this week to honor our veterans.

The event will take place beginning at noon on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the campus, located at 15880 Dam Road Extension between the administration office and Aromas Café.

To start the event, Alexa Olemdo will sing the national anthem.

Next, Chris Taliaferro, Employment Development Department specialist, and Jessica Taliaferro, Lower Lake High School principal, will be speaking about what Veterans Day means to them.

Veteran student Jared Thompson will also be sharing his experience in the armed forces as well as the benefits he has obtained through the GI Bill.

Lake County Campus, along with other college campuses around the nation, offer veteran support to help guide them through the paperwork to access their benefits and further their education.

Aromas Café will be serving food during the event. Food will be served at 25 percent off on entrees for those who are veterans.

Come join the celebration as Lake County Campus honors those who have served their country.

For more information call 707-995-7900 or visit http://LCC.yccd.edu.

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