CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks woman was arrested last week on battery charges, with additional charges of resisting arrest and battery on a peace officer added after she fought with the deputies arresting her.

Angela Carol Sanchez, 47, was taken into custody on the afternoon of Thursday, June 21, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly after 2 p.m. that day sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of 9900 E. Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks for a report of a battery, Brooks said.

Upon their arrival the deputies contacted the victim, who alleged that Sanchez had struck her in the back of the head. Brooks said the victim wanted Sanchez arrested for battery and signed a private persons arrest form.

Deputies contacted Sanchez in front of her residence, which is in close proximity to the victim’s home.  As deputies went to take Sanchez into custody, she violently resisted and attempted to remove the arresting deputy’s firearm from its holster, Brooks said.

Even after Sanchez was placed in handcuffs, she continued to resist by lunging head first and spitting at the deputies, according to Brooks.

Sanchez was arrested for attempting to remove a firearm from a peace officer, battery on a peace officer, obstructing or resisting a peace officer, and battery on a person, Brooks said.

While being transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, Sanchez attempted to break the window out of the patrol vehicle by kicking it and causing damage, Brooks said. Upon Sanchez’s arrival to the facility, she also was charged with vandalizing the patrol vehicle.       

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Want a cat or kitten to join your family this summer?

Lake County Animal Care and Control has numerous felines of all ages ready to leave their cages behind in favor of yards and couches of their own.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake .

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Female calico

This female calico is 1 year old.

She has gold eyes and a long, multicolored coat.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 33123.

Orange and white tabby kitten

This male orange and white tabby kitten is 10 weeks old.

He has gold eyes and a long coat, weighs just over 2 pounds and has not yet been altered.

Find him in cat room kennel 23b, ID No. 33202.

Gray tabby kitten

This male gray tabby kitten is 10 weeks old.

He has a short coat and gold eyes, weighs 2 pounds and has not yet been neutered.

He's in cat room kennel No. 23c, ID No. 33203.

'Silver'

“Silver” is a 9-year-old male Siamese mix.

He has a short, multicolored coat, blue eyes and has been neutered.

Find Silver in cat room kennel No. 54, ID No. ID: 32995.

'Joey'

“Joey” is a 14-year-old male domestic short hair mix.

He has tan coloring, green eyes and a kinked tail. He has been neutered.

He's in cat room kennel No. 55, ID No. 32994.

Gray tabby kitten

This female gray tabby kitten is 13 weeks old.

She has green eyes, a short coat and has been spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 65a, ID No. 32839.

Gray tabby kitten

This male gray tabby kitten is 13 weeks old.

He has a short coat, green eyes and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 65b, ID No. 32840.

Male domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 13 weeks old.

He has gray and black coloring and green eyes, and has been neutered.

He's in cat room kennel No. 65c, ID No. 32841.

Brown tabby kitten

This male brown tabby kitten is 13 weeks old.

He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 65d, ID No. 32842.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

 
While not a staple in every kitchen, this power food has become better known in recent years.
 
Increasingly popular quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient grain that was prized by the Incas, who first cultivated it more than 4,000 years ago.
 
Quinoa originated in the Andean regions of Ecuador, Bolivia, Columbia and Peru. A high altitude crop best grown over 10,000 feet, it thrives in a wide variety of difficult conditions, including poor soil, thin cold air, frost, hot sun, short growing days, minimal rainfall and even drought.
 
It’s a high protein grain, unique because it’s one of the few plants that provide complete protein, containing all the amino acids.
 
The World Health Organization has rated the quality of quinoa’s proteins as at least equivalent to that of milk.
 
We refer to quinoa as a grain and use it as such, but since it’s not a member of the grass family, it’s not considered a true grain botanically. Rather, it’s a member of the Chenopodium family of plants, meaning its relatives include beets, spinach, chard, and even tumbleweed.
 
Another name for this clan of flora is the descriptive moniker “goosefoot,” which refers to the shape of the leaves.
 
Quinoa was considered sacred by the Incas, who referred to it as a “mother grain” because of its nutritional value and principal place in their diet. When on the march, Incan armies ate “war balls,” a mixture of quinoa and fat, which could sustain them for days.
 
There are hundreds of varieties of quinoa. Peruvian and Bolivian seed banks alone have over eighteen hundred genetically distinct types.
 
Quinoa seeds (what we know as grain) grow in large clusters at the end of stalks which range between three and nine feet high.
 
They come in a dazzling array of hues – red, pink, orange, yellow, lavender, purple, green, black and white – though most of what we see in the market is a pale yellow color. Occasionally red or black quinoa is available, and some packaged quinoa is multicolored.
 
The entire plant can be used from top to bottom, as evidenced by the Aymara Indians on the high plains of Bolivia.

The seeds are eaten whole like rice or toasted and ground into flour for tortillas, the leaves are eaten as a vegetable and used to feed farm animals, the stalks are burned as fuel, and the wash water from rinsing the seeds is sometimes used as a shampoo.
 
There is a reason such rinse water can function like soap. Each quinoa seed is coated with a thick covering of saponin, a resin-like substance with a bitter, soapy taste that protects it from predators such as birds and insects.
 
Seeds sold commercially have already been rinsed of saponin, but if quinoa is grown at home, they should be rinsed and drained five or ten times under cold running water to remove the coating. The flavor of the grain is mellowed with each rinsing.
 
Quinoa has a mild flavor reminiscent of couscous with a nutty hint of peanut, a beautifully fluffy texture, and a soft and chewy consistency.
 
I love it and often prepare and serve it at home as I would rice.
 
It’s become a culinary favorite as a substitute for other grains, as well, such as couscous and bulgur wheat, and since it’s gluten-free, it’s safe for those with sensitivities to wheat.
 
For example, tabouleh, the Middle Eastern bulgur wheat-based salad often served as an accompaniment to hummus, doesn’t have to be taboo for those suffering with gluten allergies when quinoa’s around.
 
Quinoa goes with almost anything, and is just as happy as a salad with tropical fruits as it is when served as a savory side dish.
 
Small disk-shaped quinoa seeds look like a cross between sesame seeds and millet. They cook quickly, within 15 minutes or so, and when cooked, the germ (which looks like a little band surrounding the periphery) partially separates from the seed.
 
Most recipes suggest cooking one part quinoa with two parts water in a process similar to cooking rice. While this works, I was delighted to find a recipe online that uses less water and creates light, fluffy quinoa without fail.
 
It takes a bit longer and requires soaking the quinoa beforehand, but if you’re not in a hurry, it’s well worth the extra time. I’ve included this cooking method below, along with today’s recipe.
 
A by-product of quinoa is light, delicate, and highly nutritious quinoa flour. It provides depth of flavor when combined with other flours in baked goods.
 
It can be added to pancakes, muffins, pastries, cookies, and breads; however, because it doesn’t contain gluten, it must be combined with wheat or other gluten-containing flour for leavened products.
 
To make quinoa flour at home, place seeds in a blender or nut grinder and whiz until it pulverizes, which only takes a few minutes. Three-quarters of a cup of seeds will yield about a cup of flour.
 
Quinoa may be toasted in a dry pan before grinding to produce deeper flavor. (This may be done before any quinoa cooking application.)
 
Because of its high oil content, be sure to refrigerate quinoa flour, whether homemade or purchased.
 
In addition to protein, quinoa contains high levels of iron, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, niacin, and thiamine.
 
It’s also a good source of magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese, and supplies some folic acid.
 
Today’s recipe is for a Moroccan-style rice pilaf, courtesy of food critic and cookbook author, Jeff Cox, who hails from nearby Sonoma County. I love the combination of sweet and savory flavors in this recipe.
 
As a casserole, it requires the use of an oven, but I’ve included an alternate method of cooking that avoids adding such heat to your home during hot Lake County summers.
 
If you haven’t tried quinoa before, give it a whirl. Who knows? It might work its way into your culinary heart as it did mine and become a staple in your home.
 
Quinoa pilaf

1 cup quinoa grain
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for the casserole
1/3 cup whole blanched almonds
1 cup minced onions
½ cup minced carrot
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/3 cup golden raisins
2 teaspoons freshly-grated orange zest (scrub well before grating if not organic)
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
 
Rinse the quinoa thoroughly until the water runs clear.
 
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly oil a 1-1/2 quart covered casserole.
 
Place the olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. When hot, add the almonds and sauté for about two minutes, until they become golden brown and fragrant.
 
Add the onions, carrots, and cinnamon and cook for about three minutes, stirring occasionally.
 
Add the quinoa and stir thoroughly so that all the little grains are coated with oil; cook for one minute.
 
Add the chicken or vegetable stock, raisins, orange zest, and cayenne and bring the mixture to a boil. Pour this hot mixture into the casserole, cover, and bake for 45 minutes.
 
When done, turn the pilaf onto a platter.
 
Esther’s note: To avoid using the oven, reduce stock to 2 cups and continue cooking in sauté pan until quinoa is tender and fully cooked, about 15 minutes. If necessary, add more stock if pan dries out and quinoa is not yet cooked.
 
Recipe is courtesy of “The Organic Cook’s Bible” by Jeff Cox and published by John Wiley & Sons Inc.
 
How to cook perfect quinoa

1 cup quinoa
1 ¼ cups cooking liquid (such as water or stock)
 
Soak quinoa in water for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour. Rinse for two or three minutes in a fine metal strainer (or line a regular colander with cheesecloth).
 
Add one part quinoa to one and a quarter liquid. Bring to a simmer and then reduce to low. Cover and cook for between 30 and 35 minutes.
 
Remove from heat and let sit covered for an additional five minutes. Fluff and serve.
 
Voila! Perfect quinoa.
 
Recipe is courtesy of Wendy Polisi of www.cookingquinoa.net .

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Superior Court is seeking at least 30 applicants willing to serve as jurors and alternates on the 2012-13 Lake County Grand Jury panel.  

The 19-person grand jury is selected from the different supervisorial districts in proportion to the population of each district.

The grand jury serves as the public’s “watchdog” by investigating and reporting upon the affairs of local government.  

The term of service runs from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013, and may entail from 10 to 20 hours of work per week attending committee and general meetings, responding to citizens’ complaints, performing research, and investigating the operations of governmental agencies and allegations of wrongdoing by public officials or employees.

The court is looking for applicants in good health who are interested in community affairs, are objective and are able to work cooperatively with others.  

Experience in researching, interviewing, writing and editing, and/or auditing is desirable and having a general knowledge of the responsibilities and functions of governmental and other public entities is helpful.

A grand juror must be a U.S. citizen, age 18 or older, speak English, be a resident of California and Lake County for at least one year prior to selection, and not hold an elected office or have any felony convictions.

Applications may be obtained at www.lake.courts.ca.gov , downloaded below or by mailing a letter with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Grand Jury Coordinator, 255 N. Forbes, fourth floor, Lakeport, CA 95453.  

Applications also are available at each Superior Court Clerk’s Office; located at 255 N. Forbes, fourth floor, in Lakeport, or at 7000 A South Center Drive, in Clearlake.
 
Further information may be obtained by calling the grand jury coordinator at 707-263-2282.  

Applications must be received by July 3, 2012.  

Personal interviews will be scheduled prior to final selection.

If you are interested, please apply. If you are not interested, but know someone who may be, please let them know of this opportunity.

The U.S. Forest Service reported Sunday that it’s taking actions to continue to maintain adequate air tanker capability by mobilizing four Department of Defense C-130s equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in Colorado and elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest.   

MAFFS are portable fire retardant delivery systems that can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft to convert them into large airtankers when needed. Military C-130s equipped with MAFFS can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant on wildfires. They can discharge their entire load in under five seconds or make variable drops.

Two of the MAFFS will be provided by the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and two of the MAFFS will be provided by the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne. They will be based at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., and are expected to be available to fly wildfire suppression missions by no later than Tuesday, June 26.

“We are mobilizing MAFFS to ensure that we continue to have adequate air tanker capability as we experience very challenging wildfire conditions in Colorado and elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Maintaining adequate aerial firefighting capability, with now 21 large air tankers and over 300 helicopters, is critical to provide support to, and enhance the safety of, the firefighters on the ground who are working so hard to suppress these wildfires.”      

Airtankers are used in wildfire suppression to deliver fire retardant to reduce the intensity and slow the growth of wildfires so that firefighters on the ground can construct containment lines safely, which is how wildfires are suppressed. Fire retardant is not typically used to suppress wildfires directly.

Professional fire managers decide whether to use airtankers to deliver fire retardant, and where to use them, based on the objectives they have established to manage wildfires and the strategies they are using to achieve them. Airtankers are not requested for all wildfires.

The MAFFS program is a 40-year long joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Defense. The U.S. Forest Service owns the MAFFS equipment and supplies the retardant, while the DoD provides the C-130 aircraft, pilots, and maintenance and support personnel to fly the missions.

The role of MAFFS, as outlined in an agreement between the DoD and the U.S. Forest Service, is to provide a surge capability that can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts when commercial airtankers are fully committed or not readily available.

With the MAFFS mobilizations, the U.S. Forest Service will have 16 large airtankers and one very large airtanker available for wildfire suppression and will have the capability to mobilize an additional 9 large airtankers.       

The U.S. Forest Service has a total of eight MAFFS systems ready for operational use, plus one spare.

Military installations in Wyoming, North Carolina, California, and Colorado provide C-130s to fly MAFFS missions.

Specifically, the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne; the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard, Charlotte; the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, Port Hueneme; and the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

In 2011, MAFFS were activated several times to support fires in Mexico, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. This is the first time MAFFS have been activated in 2012. From 2002 to 2011, military C-130s with MAFFS systems dropped a total of approximately 7.7 million gallons of retardant on wildfires.

Each year, an average of more than 75,000 wildfires burn an average of about 7 million acres of land in the United States.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Anderson Marsh State Historic Park will remain open while negotiations continue between the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to establish an operating agreement that will allow the park to remain open for the next three years.

The park had previously been scheduled to close July 1.

“This is good news as this will allow AMIA to complete its negotiations with DPR to take on the responsibility of partial operation of the Park so that it can remain open and available to the Public,” said AMIA President Roberta Lyons. “AMIA appreciates all of the support we have gotten from Clear Lake Sector Superintendent Bill Salata in negotiating this agreement.”

In announcing DPR’s intention to keep the park open, Roy Stearns, DPR’s deputy director for communications, stated that “if we have negotiations in progress for partnership agreements that are close and look good, we will keep the park open to complete those agreements after the July 1 deadline. In your case, your negotiations are progressing and so our intention is to keep the park open as we complete the agreements necessary to keep this park on the open list.”

“Again, we cannot thank AMIA and your partners enough,” said Sterns. “We are grateful for the help for agreements that keep parks open from anywhere from one to five years. But, as we have said before, this is a reprieve, not a permanent fix. Here at State Parks, we have two major priorities: Do all we can to keep our parks open during this crisis, and at the same time, look to the future for what we can and must do to find stable funding sources that put this system back together as all of these agreements run their course.

“I would strongly encourage all of your supporters and donors to understand that their help will make a difference and that they should not hesitate, but step up and provide the final funding needed to close this agreement,” added Sterns.

“We urge those of you who have not yet joined AMIA to do so at whatever level of support you can afford” said AMIA Treasurer Henry Bornstein. “Every donation helps.”

Gae Henry, AMIA secretary, added, “AMIA volunteers will continue to hold monthly interpretive nature walks and ranch house tours, host senior and student field trips to the park and conduct other interpretive events while negotiations continue.”

Upcoming AMIA events this summer include:

• Nature walks and ranch tours: Saturday mornings, July 14 and Aug. 11;
• Celebration: 30th anniversary of the establishment of the park, Saturday, Aug. 11;
• Fundraiser: musician Rita Hoskins at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre Sept. 8.

You can get more information about joining AMIA or about upcoming activities by visiting www.andersonmarsh.org or calling 707-995-2658.

Federal partners are continuing to work closely with first responders and firefighters from local, state and tribal agencies to combat and monitor large wildfires throughout the West including those in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

As of Monday, more than 450 federal, state and local firefighters and four heavy airtankers were fighting the most recent major outbreak, the aggressive Waldo Canyon fire in the hillsides west of Colorado Springs, Colo.

An additional two C-130 aircraft fitted with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems will be operating in the next day from Peterson Air Force base in Colorado Springs.

“As we continue this fight, we’ve been able to fill every single order for more firefighters and aircraft to ensure we have everything we need to contain this fire,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Our hundreds of brave men and women on the front line are battling dry conditions, a lack of snowpack, excessive dead trees, hot weather and complex terrain to try to get this fire and others throughout the west under control.”

The fire has consumed more than 3,600 acres of forested land since Saturday. With low humidity, high winds and temperatures in the 90s forecast for Monday, the situation remains challenging as firefighters work in what is described as very difficult terrain. The Waldo Canyon fire stretches in three directions across very dry forests.

Approximately 1,400 Forest Service personnel and 29 engines are currently assigned to the Rocky Mountain region, with the majority of those resources staged in Colorado. An additional 500 firefighters are assigned to Colorado from the Department of the Interior.

Through the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates resources from the US Forest Service, the Department of the Interior and other federal agencies, firefighters, incident management teams, airtankers, helicopters, fire engines and other resources are being provided to supplement state and local resources as teams continue to respond to fires across the West.

On Sunday, FEMA approved Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) that authorize the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Waldo Canyon Fire in El Paso County, Colorado; the Weber Fire in Montezuma County, Colorado; and the Hollow Fire in Sanpete County, Utah.

An FMAG makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

On June 6, FEMA approved a FMAG for the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado, and on June 22 approved a FMAG for the Eagle Mountain/Dump Fire in Utah County, Utah.

FMAGs are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

The Western fire season is now, on average, 78 days longer than in the mid-1980s. Cumulative drought, a changing climate, extensive insect kill in western forests, and regional shifts of population into the wildland urban interface have resulted in an increased level of wildfire activity that is expected to continue into the future.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, in partnerships with states and local partners, have developed a cohesive strategy to respond to these trends by focusing on:

Restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes. Through forest restoration activities such as mechanical thinning and controlled burns, officials can make forests healthier and less susceptible to catastrophic fire.
Creating fire-adapted communities. The Forest Service and its partners are working with  communities to reduce fire hazards around houses to make them more resistant to wildfire threats.
Responding to Wildfires. This element considers the full spectrum of fire management activities and recognizes the differences in missions among local, state, tribal and Federal agencies.

On average the USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior bureaus respond to more than 20,000 wildfires per year.

Federal firefighters, aircraft, and ground equipment are strategically assigned to parts of the country as the fire season shifts across the nation.

Firefighting experts will continuously monitor conditions and move these assets as necessary to be best positioned and increase initial attack capabilities.

In addition, federal agencies are conducting accelerated restoration activities nationwide aimed at healthier forests and reduced fire risks in the years to come.

Federal land managers are also helping communities prepare for wildfire. Federal partnerships with tribal, state, and local agencies strengthen preparedness programs, such as Firewise,  http://www.firewise.org/ , and Ready Set Go!, http://www.iafc.org/readySetGo , that help families and communities prepare for and survive wildfire.

You can also visit FEMA's site http://www.ready.gov to learn more about steps you and your family can take now to be prepared for an emergency.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A fire that broke out in Clearlake early Sunday afternoon was contained to four acres thanks to a quick response by firefighters.

The fire, reported at around 1 p.m., was located off of Eastlake Drive near Pomo Elementary School, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta.

Sapeta said the fire was attributed to someone mowing grass in the area.

Lake County Fire, Cal Fire and Northshore Fire responded, with a total of seven engines, a dozer, two crews, two water tenders, a Cal Fire helicopter and three battalion chiefs, according to Sapeta.

Once the helicopter began water drops, crews were able to quickly put a ring around the fire, Sapeta said.

He estimated it took only about 10 minutes to contain the fire, but an hour of overhaul and heavy mop up was required.

At one point a structure was threatened but ultimately it was not damaged, he said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The county’s animal shelter is once again featuring a variety of dogs ready to go to new homes.

Mixes of breeds including German and Australian shepherds, dachshunds, boxers, Chihuahuas and pit bulls can join your home in time for a fun-filled summer of companionship.

Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Chihuahua-terrier mix

This female Chihuahua-terrier mix is 4 years old.

She weighs 9 pounds and has a short tan coat.

Find her in kennel No. 18, ID No. 33273.

'Shelby'

“Shelby” is a 10-year-old female Australian Shepherd mix.

She has a short, black and blue merle coat and weighs nearly 63 pounds.

She is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 32125.

Boxer mix

This female boxer mix is 4 years old.

She has red and white coloring, a docked tale and weighs 50 pounds.

She’s in kennel No. 20, ID No. 33284.

Dachshund mix

This male dachshund mix is 2 years old.

He has a short black coat, weighs 33 pounds and has not yet been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 21, ID No. ID: 33239.

Miniature pinscher mix

This male miniature pinscher mix is 3 years old.

He has a short brown coat and weighs just over 7 pounds.

Find him in kennel No. 25a, ID No. 33185.

German Shepherd mix

This handsome male German Shepherd mix is 8 years old.

He has a long black and tan coat, and erect ears.

As a senior, he has some aches and pains, and needs some special attention, as he suffers from chronic hip dysplasia.

See him in kennel No. 25b, ID No. ID: 33225.

'Zak'

“Zak” is 2-year-old male Australian Shepherd-hound mix.

He has brown brindle coloring, a long coat and weighs 40 pounds. He has been neutered.

Zak is in kennel No. 27, ID No. ID: 33177.

Boxer mix

This female boxer mix is 1 year old.

She has a short coat, weighs 36 pounds and has not yet been altered.

She is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 33122.

‘Pig’

“Pig” is a 1-year-old pit bull terrier mix.

He has a short red and white coat, weighs 49 pounds and has not yet been altered.

Pig also may have a case of mange.

He’s in kennel No. 33, ID No. 32971.

Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With the final numbers now in, Lake County’s annual Relay for Life event passed its goals this year, gaining special recognition for its effort to recruit participants in the ongoing fight against cancer.

The 11th annual event – which began Saturday, May 19, and lasted until the following day at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport – raised nearly $106,000, passing its goal of $100,000, according to Lake County Relay for Life Co-Chair Racheal Harmon.

Harmon said the money is still coming in from the event.

“This year was such an amazing year for many reasons,” Harmon said.

Harmon said the relay had 764 participants this year, double that of the 2011 event.

In addition, there were 83 registered teams, 35 of them being newly recruited, she said.

Harmon said Lake County was recognized as being in the top three areas in all of California for newly recruited teams.

This year’s 83 teams raised funds for the American Cancer Society’s research, education, advocacy and service programs, Harmon said.

“This outstanding show of support proves that the people of Lake County are truly committed to the fight against cancer,” she said.

Lake County’s fundraising and participation numbers become all the more impressive when comparing the results to larger areas.

Harmon said the Studio City North Hollywood team raised $64,815, with 429 participants and 37 teams; West Sacramento brought in $27,020, with 305 participants and 37 teams; and South San Francisco had 155 participants and 24 teams, and raised $30,148.

Harmon said the event honored survivors and those who have died, and offered the opportunity to fight back against the disease by raising money.

She said it was a hit, and participants and the community enjoyed every moment of it.

Harmon said 118 cancer survivors took the relay’s first lap, officially kicking off the 2012 event.

“These survivors are the reason we continue the fight,” she said. “Their participation inspires hope in those currently battling cancer.”

Top individual participants were Jenny Bowen, $2,565; Angie DeMaria, $1,615; and Brenda Wesselhoff, $1,610, Harmon reported.

Top teams were Find a Penny, $8,660.75; Cell Smashers, $8,547.23; Pink Ladies, $8,223.55; Bella's Angels, $7,434; Envision a Cure, $6,677; Save the Tatas, $4.550; Super Suckers, $4,511.75; Angels Among Us, $3,978; St. Helena Hospital, $3,254; and PartyLite on Fire for a Cure, $3,046, according to Harmon.

Harmon said top youth teams were Middletown High School, $9,620.50; Kelseyville Cancer Kickers, $2,659; Cardinals For a Cure (Clear Lake High School), $2,363.75; and Team Cancer Kickers (Upper Lake High School), $1,914.

Three first time teams did exceptionally well, raising more money than is common for new groups entering the event, said Harmon. The top new 2012 teams were Bella's Angels, $7,434; Super Suckers, $4,475.75; and Angels Among Us, $3,978.

Harmon said Relay for Life would not be possible without its corporate sponsors.

Sponsors for this year’s relay included Reynolds Truck & Crane Inc.; Sutter Lakeside Hospital; St. Helena Hospital Clearlake; Meals on Wheels Thrift Store Inc.; Milan L. Hopkins M.D., A Medical Corporation; Early Lake Lions; Bottle Rock Power LLC; Patty Cake’s Preschool; Lake County Tribal Health Consortium Inc.; Quail Run Fitness Center; Hair Jordan Salon; The English Inn; Lakeview Super Market & Deli; Lake Events; PartyLite; Batter-Up Cupcakes; Perkos; Lakeport Disposal; Lake County Record-Bee; Ice Water; Upper Lake High School; RB Peters; Kelseyville Septic; Wine Country Gas; McDonald’s; The Party Store in Lakeport; Lake County News; Bruno’s Shop Smart; Lakeport Kiwanis; the Thompson Family; Hillside Honda; and the UPS Store in Lakeport.

Following the encouraging results from the fundraising portion of the event, the call for volunteers to participate in a Cancer Prevention Study has already received responses from 130,000 men and women across the country, with 15,000 from California.

This Cancer Prevention Study, known as CPS-3, will have the American Cancer Society asking for participants until December 2013. The final goal is 300,000 participants nationwide, from various racial/ethnic backgrounds.

They are looking for men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have no personal history of cancer.  

For details on the program, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-888-604-5888 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Detailed information and frequently asked questions also can be found at www.cancer.org .

While Relay for Life culminates in the May event, the effort to put it all together runs from September to August.

For information on how you can help in the fight against cancer, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.americancancerfund.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Participating for its 31st year, the Lake County Amateur Radio Society once again took part in the Worldwide Field Day.

The event began at 11 a.m. Saturday and runs through 11 a.m. Sunday with a mobile field operations center atop Vista Point in Lakeport.

The public is encouraged to visit and learn about amateur shortwave radio, also know has ham radio.

“We do it for fun, but we also provide a valuable service to the community,” said Tom Patton, a member of the group.

Jeff Plank, president of the Lake County Amateur Radio Society, said the club’s members provide supplemental communications not only to emergency responders but also for events where other forms of communication are impossible – for instance, in areas without cell phone signals or at large events without enough personnel.

Some of the events and organizations they help provide communications assistance to include the Lake County Fair, Konocti Challenge, Davis Double Century Bike Club, Lake County Public Health, Red Cross, area hospitals and more.

“Wherever help is needed, we will be there,” said Plank.

The annual field day allows members of the Lake County Amateur Radio Society to demonstrate to the public what amateur radio is all about, allowing people to learn and try out the mobile equipment – some of which can be set up in less than a minute or carried like a cell phone – and explain the importance of the equipment in emergency situations.

During local events, amateur radio operators can communicate with one another as well as emergency responders – but they can also communicate across long distances.

“Tonight, with our battery-operated equipment and mobile antennas, we've been in contact with other operators on the East Coast, including Vermont and Pennsylvania,” Patton said.

For more information, you can stop by Vista Point in Lakeport, in the parking lot of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, before 11 a.m. Sunday, or contact Arland Souza of the Nice Amateur Radio Club at 707-349-1519.

For nearly 35 years, NASA’s Voyager 1 probe has been hurtling toward the edge of the solar system, flying through the dark void on a mission unlike anything attempted before.

One day, mission controllers hope, Voyager 1 will leave the solar system behind and enter the realm of the stars – interstellar space.

That day may be upon us.

“The latest data from Voyager 1 indicate that we are clearly in a new region where things are changing quickly,” said Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. “This is very exciting. We are approaching the solar system's final frontier.”

The “frontier” he’s referring to is the edge of the heliosphere, a great magnetic bubble that surrounds the sun and planets.

The heliosphere is the sun’s own magnetic field inflated to gargantuan proportions by the solar wind. Inside lies the solar system – “home.” Outside lies interstellar space, where no spacecraft has gone before.

A telltale sign of the frontier’s approach is the number of cosmic rays hitting Voyager 1.

Cosmic rays are high energy particles such as protons and helium nuclei accelerated to near-light speed by distant supernovas and black holes.

The heliosphere protects the solar system from these subatomic bullets, deflecting and slowing many of them before they can reach the inner planets.

As Voyager approaches the frontier, the number of cosmic rays has gone up.

“From January 2009 to January 2012, there had been a gradual increase of about 25 percent in the amount of galactic cosmic rays Voyager was encountering,” said Stone.

“More recently, however, we have seen a very rapid escalation in that part of the energy spectrum,” Stone said. “Beginning on May 7, 2012, the cosmic ray hits have increased five percent in a week and nine percent in a month.”

The sharp increase means that Voyager 1 could be on the verge of a breakthrough 18 billion kilometers from Earth.

When Voyager 1 actually exits the heliosphere, researchers expect to see other changes as well.

For one thing, energetic particles from the sun will become scarce as the spacecraft leaves the heliosphere behind.

Also, the magnetic field around Voyager 1 will change direction from that of the sun’s magnetic field to that of the new and unexplored magnetism of interstellar space.

So far, neither of these things has happened. Nevertheless, the sudden increase in cosmic rays suggests it might not be long.

Meanwhile, Voyager 2 is making its own dash for the stars, but because of its slower pace lags a few billion kilometers behind Voyager 1. Both spacecraft remain in good health.

“When the Voyagers launched in 1977, the Space Age was all of 20 years old,” said Stone. “Many of us on the team dreamed of reaching interstellar space, but we really had no way of knowing how long a journey it would be – or if these two vehicles that we invested so much time and energy in would operate long enough to reach it. “

As the Space Age nears the 55-year mark, there is little doubt: The Voyagers are going the distance.

For more news from the edge of the solar system, please visit www.voyager.jpl.nasa.gov .

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.