Thursday, 06 March 2025

Register

News

Posted On

THIS STORY IS BEING UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL EVENTS.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ghosts, goblins, monsters of all shapes and sizes, and costumed figures are expected to be out in force for Halloween festivities taking place this week.

Annual celebrations are planned for trick-or-treaters of all ages in the afternoon and evening hours on Tuesday.

The weather forecast is for pleasant daytime temperatures in the low 70s that are expected to drop into the high 40s at night.

While there will be an 83-percent waxing gibbous moon that night, trick-or-treaters and their parents are encouraged to make sure that they have flashlights and retro-reflective tape on costumes to make them visible.

Motorists are urged to be on the lookout for children as they make their Halloween rounds.

If you don’t see an event listed, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we’ll update the calendar.

The events roundup follows.

TUESDAY, OCT. 31

Lakeport Elementary School Halloween costume parade

Lakeport Elementary first- through third-grade students will take part in the school’s Halloween costume parade through downtown from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.

The parade has been a tradition for generations of Lakeport schoolchildren.

It will begin at the Natural High School property in the 800 block of N. Main Street and head south on Main Street to the intersection of First Street.

The Lakeport Police Department and Lakeport Public Works Department will be on hand for traffic control.

City of Clearlake City Hall-OWeen Bash

The city of Clearlake will its annual City Hall-OWeen Bash from 2 to 5 p.m.

Trick or treat at city hall, where there will be candy trick-or-treat bags for children and treats for all, including pizza.

This year's costume theme for city staff is “Night at the Movies.”

Clearlake City Hall is located at 14050 Olympic Drive.

Trick or Treat Main Street

The Lakeport Main Street Association will host Trick or Treat Main Street from 2 to 4 p.m.

Trick-or-treaters will be welcome to stop in at downtown businesses.

The fun is topped off with a costume contest at Museum Park, located across the street from the courthouse.

Fifth annual Trunk-or-Treat and Parade

The Lake Community Pride Foundation and Lake County Youth Center will host the fifth annual Trunk-or-Treat and Parade from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at Redbud Park, 14655 Ballpark Ave. in Clearlake.

The parade takes place around Redbud Park beginning at 4:30 p.m., with the Trunk-or-Treat portion taking place from 5 to 9 p.m.

There also will be a haunted house, food and music.

The event is free.

The city of Clearlake will temporarily close a portion of Golf Avenue from 14825 Lakeshore Drive to 14800 Ballpark Ave. from 3 to 10 p.m. for the festivities.

Clear Lake Riviera Community Association Trunk or Treat

The Clear Lake Riviera Community Association will host its Trunk or Treat event from 5 to 7 p.m.

The event will be held at 9689 Soda Bay Road.

For more information, call the association at 707-277-7281.

Kelseyville Trunk or Treat

The Kelseyville Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host a Trunk or Treat event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the lower parking lot at Kelseyville High School, 5480 Main St.

There will be lots of candy and hot chocolate for all.

The event is free.

Lucerne Community Church Trunk or Treat

The annual Lucerne Community Church Trunk or Treat celebration will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event will take place in the hall and the back parking lot at the church, 5870 E. Highway 20.

There will be treats, games and other fun activities.

For more information call the church at 707-274-8326.

Spring Valley Halloween Carnival

The Spring Valley community will hold its Halloween Carnival from 6 to 9 p.m. at the community center, 3000 Wolf Creek Road, Clearlake Oaks.

The event will feature candy and other treats, a haunted house and an array of fun activities for children and adults.

Kiwanis annual Halloween Kids Fair

The Kiwanis Club of Lakeport’s annual Halloween Kids Fair will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake High School Gym, 350 Lange St. in Lakeport.

This free community event is open to all children and families.

They will have games, treats, pumpkin weight guessing and costume contests with prizes.

FRIDAY, NOV. 3

‘Halloween Spirits’ benefit

The Halloween Spirits benefit concert will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Big Valley Hall, 1510 Big Valley Road, at the Finley/Lakeport border.

Door charge is $10 per person. No pets.

Lake County party band Clean Sweep will be performing rock, R&B and blues, so wear your dancing shoes.

Costumes are encouraged at this celebration of Halloween and Day of the Dead. Special treats for costumes can be claimed at the door.

Local wine and handcrafted beer, soda, water, treats will be sold. Local vendors and friends have donated items for the raffle and silent auction.

Halloween Spirits is a mutual benefit for Big Valley Hall renovations to improve the venue for future benefits and for Hope City to rebuild homes lost in the 2015 to 2017 fires.

More details are on Facebook at Lake County Fire Recovery Benefits or call 707-278-7126.

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.
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control still has several Sulphur fire dogs waiting to be claimed along with the many other dogs it’s offering to new homes.

The dogs taken in from the Sulphur fire are at the top of the featured listings; they will not be up for adoption to the general public until mid-November in order to give their owners the opportunity to reclaim them.

The dogs in the general shelter population available for adoption this week include mixes of Chihuahua, German Shepherd, pit bull and shepherd.

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”).

SULPHUR FIRE DOGS

This female pit bull mix is in kennel No. 2, ID No. 8736. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female pit bull mix

This female pit bull mix was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake Park on Oct. 13.

She has a short red and white coat. She is not spayed.

She is in kennel No. 2, ID No. 8736.

This female cream-colored Labrador Retriever-poodle mix is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 8694. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Labrador Retriever-poodle mix

This female cream-colored Labrador Retriever-poodle mix was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Oct. 9.

She is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 8694.

This young male German Shepherd mix is in kennel No. 5, ID No. 8693. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

German Shepherd mix

This young male German Shepherd mix was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Oct. 9.

He is unaltered and has a medium-length black and brown coat.

He is in kennel No. 5, ID No. 8693.

This female border collie is in kennel No. 8, ID No. 8730. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Border collie mix

This female border collie was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Oct. 12.

She has a medium-length black and white coat and is not spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 8, ID No. 8730.

OTHER DOGS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

This young female Chihuahua is in kennel No. 9, ID No. 8806. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female Chihuahua

This young female Chihuahua has a short tan and black coat.

She’s in kennel No. 9, ID No. 8806.

This male pit bull terrier is in kennel No.15, ID No. 8811. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male pit bull terrier

This male pit bull terrier has a short black and white coat.

He’s in kennel No.15, ID No. 8811.

“Pedro” is a male shepherd mix in kennel No. 17, ID No. 8746. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Pedro’

“Pedro” is a male shepherd mix.

He has a short tan and white coat.

Shelter staff said he gets along with other dogs.

He’s in kennel No. 17, ID No. 8746.

This female German Shepherd is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 8797. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female German Shepherd

This female German Shepherd has a medium-length tan and bay coat.

She’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 8797.

This male German Shepherd is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 8798. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male German Shepherd

This male German Shepherd has a medium-length tan and brown coat.

He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 8798.

This female German Shepherd is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 7872. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female German Shepherd

This female German Shepherd has a long black coat.

She’s in kennel No. 24, ID No. 7872.

This female shepherd mix is in kennel No. 25, ID No. 8812. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female shepherd mix

This female shepherd mix has a short tan and black coat.

She’s in kennel No. 25, ID No. 8812.

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, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.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.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Posted On

Friday, Oct. 20, 2017

06:15 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200017
Officer initiated activity at S State Highway 29/ACKLEY Rd, Lakeport. Between ackley and highland springs/sb. Disposition: WARNING.

07:56 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200029
Officer initiated activity at Terrace Middle School, Lange, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

08:16 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200034
Officer initiated activity at HARTLEY/17TH, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

08:28 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200038
Officer initiated activity at HARTLEY/16TH, Lakeport. Disposition: MOVING VIOLATION CITATION.

08:45 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES 1710200041
Occurred at Lavelle's Gallery on N Main. , Lakeport. BICYCLE CHAINED TO A POST IFO THE OFFICE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. SOMEONE CAME BACK AND CHAINED ANOTHER BICYCLE TO THAT THIS MORNING. THE RP WOULD LIKE THEM REMOVED. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

10:26 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INJURY 1710200059
Occurred at Safeway on 11TH. , Lakeport. TWO VEHICLE TC POSSIBLY ONE INJURY
Service Class: BUSN. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN.

12:03 VEHICLE CODE/OTHER OFFENSES 1710200071
Officer initiated activity at Lakeport Police Department, S Main, Lakeport. TICKET SIGN OFF. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

12:46 VEHICLE CODE/OTHER OFFENSES 1710200081
Officer initiated activity at Lakeport Police Department, S Main, Lakeport. 21 DETAIL. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

13:38 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200093
Officer initiated activity at Cvs Pharmacy, 11TH, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

13:55 VEHICLE CODE/OTHER OFFENSES 1710200097
Occurred at Lakeport Police Department on S Main. , Lakeport. HAS A TICKET THAT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED OFF. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

14:47 THEFT 1710200111
Occurred at S Main/Industrial Ave, Lakeport. WANTS TO REPORT A STOLEN VEHICLE. WAS PLACED OUTSIDE THE CAR LOT IN THAT AREA AND NOW HIS CAR IS GONE. ASSOC WITH A RED ALL IN ONE TOW TRUCK. Cellular E911 Call: Lat:39.027944 Lon:-122.91628
Service Class: WPH2. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN.

14:50 PROBLEM WITH A SUBJECT 1710200113
Occurred on 1ST, Lakeport. RP SAYING A CRAZY LADY OUTSIDE HER HOUSE NEEDING TO DO HER LAUNDRY. RP SAID SHE FOUND HER LAUNDRY IN HER LAUNDRY ROOM. RP THREW THE WOMAN'S LAUNDRY OUTSIDE. LSW LIGHT SHIRT BLUE JEAN. Service Class: RESD. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

15:15 VEHICLE CODE/OTHER OFFENSES 1710200117
Occurred at Round Table Pizza on 11TH. , Lakeport. LSH TWDS HWY 29/ GRAY-BLUE HONDA CIVIC - NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND DRIVING ERRATICALLY. Cellular E911 Call:
Lat:39.049069 Lon:-122.91598. Service Class: WPH2. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

15:47 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200124
Officer initiated activity at S State Highway 29/11TH, Lakeport. ON RAMP. Disposition: MOVING VIOLATION CITATION.

16:12 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200137
Officer initiated activity at Safeway, 11TH, Lakeport. BEHIND - LOADING BAY. Disposition: MOVING VIOLATION CITATION.

16:53 FOOT PATROL 1710200147
Officer initiated activity at Library Park, Park, Lakeport. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

17:18 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200152
Officer initiated activity at Giselman/Sayre, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

17:32 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200156
Officer initiated activity at N High, Lakeport. Disposition: MOVING VIOLATION CITATION.

17:48 FRAUD 1710200158
Occurred on Page Dr, Lakeport. CREDIT CARD FRAUD. Service Class: RESD. Disposition: UNFOUNDED.

19:46 PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 1710200176
Occurred at Bruno's Foods on Lakeport Bl. , Lakeport. GROUP OF JUVES IS STANDING AROUND A SUBJ ON THE GROUND THAT IS MOANING AND THEY ARE SPITTING ON HIM AND HE APPEARS INJURED. STAGING MEDICAL NFI. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

20:24 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 1710200186
Officer initiated activity at Todd Road Ext, Lakeport. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

20:26 WIRELESS 911 HANG UP 1710200187
Occurred at Courthouse on N Forbes. , Lakeport. TX TO CHP. Cellular E911 Call: Lat: 39.043189 Lon:-122.91735. Service Class: W911. Disposition: REFERRED TO ANOTHER AGENCY.

21:40 PEDESTRIAN CHECK 1710200195
Officer initiated activity at 6TH/N High, Lakeport. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

22:06 TRAFFIC STOP 1710200200
Officer initiated activity at Safeway, 11TH, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

22:59 VEHICLE CODE/OTHER OFFENSES 1710200209
Occurred on Starr, Lakeport. 2D HAND INFO. RPS STOLE THE RPS VEH..DESC: WHI 1999 ACURA WITH A DENT ON THE TRUNK AND BACK LEFT BUMPER..OCCD APPROX 5 AGO..RESP LSH TWDS PEOPLE'S SERVICES. Cellular E911 Call: Lat:38.936008 Lon:-122.61907. Service Class: WPH2. Disposition: WARNING.

23:50 FOOT PATROL 1710200217
Officer initiated activity at Clearlake Club Bar, N Main, Lakeport. IN THE AREA. Disposition: CHECKS OK.
Blog Left ad
Posted On

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control continues to hold several cats taken in during the Sulphur fire in order to reunite them with their families, while offering several other felines to new homes immediately.

The Sulphur fire cats are in a 30-day holding period to allow them to be reclaimed before they are put up for adoption to the general public.

Those felines from the Sulphur fire area are listed at the top, with the general population cats below them.

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, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

SULPHUR FIRE CATS
This adult female domestic short hair is in kennel No. 88, ID No. 8742. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair

This adult female domestic short hair was found in Clearlake Oaks on Oct. 13.

She has a brown tabby coat and gold eyes.

She is in kennel No. 88, ID No. 8742.

This male domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 94, ID No. 8728. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake on Oct. 12.

He has a black coat and gold eyes.

He’s in kennel No. 94, ID No. 8728.

This young female domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 99, ID No. 8739. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair

This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake on Oct. 13.

She has a torbie coat and gold eyes. She has not been altered.

She’s in kennel No. 99, ID No. 8739.

This young female domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 147, ID No. 8732. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair

This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake on Oct. 12.

She has a gray coat and green eyes. She has not been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 147, ID No. 8732.

This male domestic short hair is in kennel No. 153, ID No. 8727. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake on Oct. 12.

He has a black coat and gold eyes.

He’s in kennel No. 153, ID No. 8727.

This male domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 295, ID No. 8729. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake on Oct. 12.

He has a black and white coat and gold eyes.

He’s in clinic kennel No. 295, ID No. 8729.

GENERAL SHELTER POPULATION

“Simba” is a young male gray tabby in kennel No. 53, ID No. 8777. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Simba’

“Simba” is a young male gray tabby with a short coat and green eyes.

He is in kennel No. 53, ID No. 8777.

This domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 117, ID No. 8805. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Domestic short hair

This domestic short hair cat of undetermined gender has a short black coat and gold eyes.

The cat is in kennel No. 117, ID No. 8805.

This adult male domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 132, ID No 8781. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male domestic short hair

This adult male domestic short hair has a brown tabby coat with white markings and green eyes.

He already has been altered.

He’s in kennel No. 132, ID No 8781.

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.
Posted On

“It was the time of year when migrating crows wheeled across the sky, thunderous flocks that moved like a single veil, and I heard them, out there in the wild chirruping air. Turning to the window, I watched the birds fill the sky before disappearing, and when the air was still again, I watched the empty place where they had been.” – Sue Monk Kidd

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Human encounters with ravens and crows have been known to bring pictures of mystical or mysterious creatures to mind in some.

Both birds have been important mythological figures over time- the trickster, magician or honored bird. They have "talked" to humans via chants, dreams and through cultural ritual.

The crow and raven were sometimes known as messengers between here and "beyond."

They have always been revered for their personalities, and even thought of as clowns due to their clever antics.

These birds, both in the corvid family, which also include jays and magpies, are sometimes confused for one another.

Although they look very similar, American crows grow 17 to 20 inches in length and hold 32- to 40-inch wingspans, while the common raven is larger, at 24 to 27 inches in length and holds a 46- to 54-inch wingspan.

Ravens and crows can also be distinguished by their beaks. Ravens have much larger and sturdier bills than crows, along with disheveled-looking throat feathers.

While in flight, you may tell the two birds apart by their habits; ravens may soar, while crows do not.

An American crow. Photo by Kathleen Scavone.


Both the raven and crow numbers have dwindled and risen over time, and their numbers appear to be on the rise once again.

Scientists believe that ravens were in attendance during the North American Pleistocene era, as evidenced by numerous fossil remains in the Rancho La Brea area of Southern California.

Picture this: the early human hunter with his kill, and the ever-present raven standing by for his part of the bounty.

Crows are listed among one of the more intelligent of bird species, and the California Academy of Sciences states that their intelligence may rival that of the great apes, with their complex reasoning skills.

Both crows and ravens use their immense intelligence by performing fabulous feats of flying (crows), employ many different calls (ravens) and even display acts of playfulness. Both types of birds can use tools to obtain their food.

Crows span our continent, and are often heard cawing from meadows and treetops, and ravens prefer a habitat that is similar, including evergreen forests.

The diet of the raven includes small mammals, lizards, frogs, and trash. Crows like to eat seeds, worms, eggs, carrion and mice.

You have to agree, both of these black birds, who appear to be here to stay, remain enigmatic and intelligent.

Watch a video on avian intelligence by the California Academy of Sciences below.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also formerly wrote for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

Posted On


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After nearly three weeks of work by firefighters, on Friday the Sulphur fire was fully contained.

Cal Fire said the fire’s total size remained at 2,207 acres.

County of Lake and city of Clearlake officials reported that the fire burned 168 structures, all but two f them in the city of Clearlake, with 136 of those being homes. No deaths were reported.

Firefighters first responded to the incident in the early morning hours of Oct. 9.

The fire was managed as part of the Mendocino Lake Complex, which included the Redwood fire, which began Oct. 8.

Cal Fire said the Redwood fire was fully contained as of Thursday. That fast-moving fire killed eight people, burned 36,523 acres and several hundred structures in Potter and Redwood valleys.

Cal Fire fully contained both fires ahead of schedule – the agency had originally estimated the full complex would be extinguished by Nov. 1.

Elsewhere around the region, Cal Fire reported on Friday that the Southern LNU Complex that began in Napa and Solano counties on Oct. 8 also was fully contained.

That complex burned 51,624 acres, destroyed 481 structures and damaged 90 more, Cal Fire said.

Edging closer to being fully extinguished is the Central LNU Complex in Napa and Sonoma counties.

Cal Fire said that complex, which began Oct. 8, was at 96-percent containment on Friday night.

The complex, one of the most destructive in the state’s history, has had 23 deaths attributed to it and altogether has burned 110,720 acres and destroyed 6,957 structures, according to Cal Fire.

As of Friday night, Cal Fire said 270 firefighters, 19 engine companies, two helicopters, four bulldozers and six crews remained assigned to the complex.

Cal Fire said the causes of all of the fires remain under investigation.

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.
Posted On

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport has opportunities for the general public to become involved in local government by serving on local commissions and committees.

If you have an interest in serving your community, officials said applying for a position on a city commission or committee is a great place to start.

The city invites applications for the following committees and commissions:

– Lakeport Planning Commission;
– Parks and Recreation Commission;
Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee, also known as LEDAC.

These appointments would be effective as of Jan. 1, 2018.

Membership on these commissions and committees is voluntary.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Nov. 30.

If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, applications are available on the city’s Web site, www.cityoflakeport.com, under the Hot Topic, “Now Recruiting: Commission/Committee Openings.”

For additional information, please contact Deputy City Clerk Hilary Britton at 707-263‑5615, Extension 12, or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States and a concern the California Highway Patrol addresses with its Start Smart Program.

The likelihood of a teen being involved in a collision is significantly reduced when high-risk driving behaviors are eliminated.

The free Start Smart class can help eliminate these behaviors by providing teens driver education developed specifically to address risky driving behaviors observed every day by CHP officers.

“The intent of the Start Smart program is to provide new drivers with pertinent information that will help in making smart decisions behind the wheel,” said CHP Acting Commissioner Warren Stanley. “The program also reinforces that driving is a great privilege that comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility.”

Designed for newly licensed teen drivers and their parents, the CHP’s Start Smart program is a two-hour driver safety class that is conducted throughout the state. It uses innovative techniques to capture the attention of teens and parents, providing a lasting impression.

The Start Smart curriculum is based on teen driver and passenger behaviors, California’s Graduated Driver License law, cultural changes in today’s society and the need for stronger parental involvement in a teen’s driving experience.

Parents are also reminded of their responsibility to teach their new driver and model good driving behavior.

Parents and teenagers can register for a Start Smart class by contacting their local CHP office.

The two-hour Start Smart classes are frequently held by the Clear Lake Area CHP office in Kelseyville. Contact Officer Kory Reynolds at 707-279-0103 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

For more information about Start Smart and the GDL program, download the CHP Start Smart mobile application, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s jobless rate showed marked improvement in September, even as the harvest season was winding down.

The Employment Development Department’s latest report on unemployment said that Lake County’s September rate was 5.4 percent, down from a revised 5.9 percent in August and well below the year-ago estimate of 5.9 percent.

California’s September unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, unchanged from August. The state’s September 2016 jobless rate was 5.3 percent.

The unemployment rate in California is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 households.

Nationwide, the September jobless rate was 4.2 percent, down from 4.4 percent in August and 4.9 percent the previous September, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Job growth in Lake County in September took place in subcategories including nondurable goods, 6.3 percent; retail trade, 0.9 percent; goods producing, 0.9 percent; and educational and health services, 0.2 percent, according to information provided by the Employment Development Department.

Categories in Lake County that showed job loss last month included total farm, 26.4 percent; information, 8.3 percent; federal government, 5.9 percent; state government, 4.5 percent; local government, 2.4 percent; leisure and hospitality, 1.8 percent; and other services, 1.8 percent.

Lake County’s September jobless rate earned it a ranking of No. 38 out of the state’s 58 counties. Its neighboring counties were ranked as follows: Colusa, 8.9 percent, No. 56; Glenn, 6.3 percent, No. 45; Mendocino, 4 percent, No. 13; Napa and Sonoma, tied at, 3.2 percent, No. 4; Yolo, 4.5 percent, No. 20.

The lowest unemployment statewide, 2.7 percent, was in San Mateo County, while Imperial had the highest, 22.6 percent.

Statewide job growth continues

The Employment Development Department said California’s employers added 52,200 nonfarm payroll jobs in September, and has now gained a total of 2,643,900 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 16,830,500 in September, according to a survey of 71,000 California businesses that measures jobs in the economy.

The year-over change, September 2016 to September 2017, shows an increase of 280,300 jobs, up 1.7 percent, according to the report.

The report said that the federal household survey, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed an increase in the number of employed Californians over the month and the year.

It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in September was 18,309,000, an increase of 113,000 from August, and up 183,000 from the employment total in September of last year.

The number of unemployed Californians was 986,000 in September – up by 13,000 over the month, but down by 37,000 compared with September of last year, the Employment Development Department said.

Eight of California’s 11 industry sectors added a total of 57,100 jobs in September, the report said.

Government posted the largest jobs increase with a gain of 27,000 jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, up 13,000 jobs, and other services, up 5,200 jobs. Other sectors adding jobs over the month were information; leisure and hospitality; construction; educational and health services; and financial activities, according to the report.

Three industry sectors reported job declines over the month, down a total of 4,900 jobs.

The state said professional and business services posted the largest decrease over the month, down 3,500 jobs, followed by manufacturing, down 1,300 jobs, and mining and logging, down 100 jobs.

In a year-over-year comparison – September 2016 to September 2017 – the state said nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 280,300 jobs, a 1.7-percent increase.

The Employment Development Department said eight of California’s 11 industry sectors added a total of 287,700 jobs over the year.

The report said the largest job gains were in educational and health services, up 75,300 jobs, or a 3.0-percent increase; government, up 57,600 jobs, a 2.3-percent increase; and construction, up 44,600 jobs, a 5.7-percent increase.

Other sectors that the agency said added jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities; other services; information; and financial activities.

The Employment Development Department said three industry sectors posted job declines over the year, down a total of 7,400 jobs: professional and business services fell by 3,400 jobs, down 0.1 percent; manufacturing fell by 3,000 jobs, down 0.2 percent; and mining and logging fell by 1,000 jobs, down 4.2 percent.

The Employment Development Department also reported that there were 312,933 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the September survey week. That is compared with 340,670 in August and 326,253 in September of last year.

New claims for Unemployment Insurance were 39,575 in September, compared with 38,074 in August and 38,277 in September of last year, the agency said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The first days of November are forecast to bring with them a solid fall rainstorm.

The National Weather Service’s Sacramento office reported that rain – and snow in higher elevations – is in the forecast for Northern California for late in the coming week.

The agency said the forecast confidence is improving for a very solid – but not torrential – rainstorm.

The rain could arrive as early as Thursday or as late as Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

The specific Lake County forecast calls for slight chances of rain all day Thursday and Friday morning, with rain likely on Friday night and Saturday.

Lake County and the rest of Northern California so far have had little rain this fall, and according to a winter forecast issued by Accuweather, California is set to have a milder and drier winter than last season.

“After a big season for snowfall in central and Northern California last year, both regions are predicted to be less wet and snowy in the upcoming months,” the forecast said.

However, milder conditions are likely to be more beneficial, considering that many areas of Lake County saw damage and flooding during last winter’s heavy rain.

Updates will be posted as the forecast develops.

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.
Posted On

A small, recently discovered asteroid – or perhaps a comet – appears to have originated from outside the solar system, coming from somewhere else in our galaxy.

If so, it would be the first "interstellar object" to be observed and confirmed by astronomers.

This unusual object – for now designated A/2017 U1 – is less than a quarter-mile (400 meters) in diameter and is moving remarkably fast. Astronomers are urgently working to point telescopes around the world and in space at this notable object.

Once these data are obtained and analyzed, astronomers may know more about the origin and possibly composition of the object.

A/2017 U1 was discovered Oct. 19 by the University of Hawaii's Pan-STARRS 1 telescope on Haleakala, Hawaii, during the course of its nightly search for near-Earth objects for NASA.

Rob Weryk, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy (IfA), was first to identify the moving object and submit it to the Minor Planet Center.

Weryk subsequently searched the Pan-STARRS image archive and found it also was in images taken the previous night, but was not initially identified by the moving object processing.

Weryk immediately realized this was an unusual object. "Its motion could not be explained using either a normal solar system asteroid or comet orbit," he said.

Weryk contacted IfA graduate Marco Micheli, who had the same realization using his own follow-up images taken at the European Space Agency's telescope on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. But with the combined data, everything made sense.

Said Weryk, "This object came from outside our solar system."

"This is the most extreme orbit I have ever seen," said Davide Farnocchia, a scientist at NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "It is going extremely fast and on such a trajectory that we can say with confidence that this object is on its way out of the solar system and not coming back."

The CNEOS team plotted the object's current trajectory and even looked into its future. A/2017 U1 came from the direction of the constellation Lyra, cruising through interstellar space at a brisk clip of 15.8 miles (25.5 kilometers) per second.

The object approached our solar system from almost directly "above" the ecliptic, the approximate plane in space where the planets and most asteroids orbit the Sun, so it did not have any close encounters with the eight major planets during its plunge toward the Sun.

On Sept. 2, the small body crossed under the ecliptic plane just inside of Mercury's orbit and then made its closest approach to the Sun on Sept. 9.

Pulled by the Sun's gravity, the object made a hairpin turn under our solar system, passing under Earth's orbit on Oct. 14 at a distance of about 15 million miles (24 million kilometers) – about 60 times the distance to the Moon.

It has now shot back up above the plane of the planets and, travelling at 27 miles per second (44 kilometers per second) with respect to the Sun, the object is speeding toward the constellation Pegasus.

"We have long suspected that these objects should exist, because during the process of planet formation a lot of material should be ejected from planetary systems. What's most surprising is that we've never seen interstellar objects pass through before," said Karen Meech, an astronomer at the IfA specializing in small bodies and their connection to solar system formation.

The small body has been assigned the temporary designation A/2017 U1 by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where all observations on small bodies in our solar system – and now those just passing through – are collected.

Said MPC Director Matt Holman, "This kind of discovery demonstrates the great scientific value of continual wide-field surveys of the sky, coupled with intensive follow-up observations, to find things we wouldn't otherwise know are there."

Since this is the first object of its type ever discovered, rules for naming this type of object will need to be established by the International Astronomical Union.

"We have been waiting for this day for decades," said CNEOS Manager Paul Chodas. "It's long been theorized that such objects exist – asteroids or comets moving around between the stars and occasionally passing through our solar system – but this is the first such detection. So far, everything indicates this is likely an interstellar object, but more data would help to confirm it."

The Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) is a wide-field survey observatory operated by the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy.

The Minor Planet Center is hosted by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and is a sub-node of NASA's Planetary Data System Small Bodies Node at the University of Maryland (http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/ ).

JPL hosts the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. All are projects of NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program, and elements of the agency's Planetary Defense Coordination Office within NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

More information about asteroids and near-Earth objects can be found at https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov or https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroidwatch.

For more information about NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, visit https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense.

For asteroid and comet news and updates, follow AsteroidWatch on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AsteroidWatch.
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County officials are working to raise awareness of childhood lead poisoning.

The effort was launched as part of Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which takes place from Oct. 22 to 28.

This year’s theme this year is, “Healthy homes, food, and play areas protect children from lead.”

Campaign highlights include; presentations to various parent and community groups that serve children from 0-6 years of age, distributions of lead poisoning prevention information cards and posters to preschools and childcare facilities, and mailings to medical providers and labs that perform lead testing. Wide and varied distribution of information will assure that lead poisoning prevention facts are shared throughout the community.

Lead poisoning can seriously affect a child’s brain and nervous system. It can cause learning and behavioral problems. A blood lead test is the only way to identify lead poisoning in children.

"The purpose of this campaign is to remind parents that lead poisoning can be detrimental to young children’s health and development. It's important for parents to ask their child’s doctor about lead testing,” said Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.

In California, children can be exposed to lead by ingesting lead-contaminated dust, paint chips from deteriorating lead-based paint, and lead-contaminated soil.

Other sources of lead poisoning include lead dust brought home on parents' work clothes, certain imported ceramic pottery, painted objects, certain inexpensive jewelry, traditional home remedies, imported spices, candies, and other food products.

Additionally, activities that involve lead products such as soldering, making stained glass, and handling bullets or fishing sinkers can put children at risk.

All parents and caregivers of young children are invited to contact Lake County Health Services Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and learn how to protect their children from this silent and serious environmental disease.

The Health Services Department can be reached at 707-263-1090 or http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Public_Health_Home.htm.

LCNews

Responsible local journalism on the shores of Clear Lake.

 

Memberships:

 

Search