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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A one-stop local assistance center to help Pawnee fire survivors is set to open on Thursday, according to county officials.

The Lake County Department of Social Services is working with local nonprofit agencies, county and state organizations to provide the center for those impacted by the fire, which began on Saturday.

On Wednesday the mandatory evacuation for Spring Valley Lakes was lifted, as Lake County News has reported.

The local assistance center, or LAC, will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Spring Valley Community Center, located at 3000 Wolf Creek Road.

A wide-ranging array of services and expertise will be available.

Some of the organizations that will be present include American Red Cross, North Coast Opportunities, United Methodist Church, Lake County Animal Care and Control, Behavioral Health, Social Security Administration, Social Services, Habitat for Humanity and Hope Animal Response, to name a few.

If you need food, assistance accessing medical care, come to the LAC. If you have concerns about your animals, debris removal or even insurance matters, there will be people on site at the LAC to help. If you need replacement copies of vital records, or a new driver’s license, come to the LAC.

All of these organizations will be there to help make profoundly complicated situations a little bit easier, and offer some of the first building blocks of successful long-term recovery.

For more information, contact the Department of Social Services at 707- 995-3260.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Cal Fire officials are using a new tool in the battle to contain the Pawnee fire east of Clearlake Oaks.

On Wednesday, at the command center located at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, Cal Fire hosted a small gathering to unveil the new firefighting technology.

The modeling program is called Simtable, produced by a company based in Santa Fe.

John Heggie, a fire behavior analyst with Cal Fire’s Incident Management Team 3 who led the demonstration, said that to his knowledge this is the first wildfire incident on which the program has been utilized.

Among those on hand for the demonstration were Sheriff Brian Martin, Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos and Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison.

“This is a marriage of the science and fire service,” Heggie said, adding it’s a great opportunity to use private sector technology to fight fires.

In the video above, Heggie and Cal Fire staff use Simtable to do a 3-D illustration of the Pawnee fire’s progression in its first burning period.

Video and article by John Jensen. Reach him via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Pawnee fire experienced more growth on Tuesday, but at the same time firefighters raised containment on the blaze.

In its third day, the Pawnee fire – which began in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision Saturday afternoon – rose to an estimated 13,000 acres, with containment up to 17 percent.

Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said the fire had burned approximately 658 acres of forest land on the Upper Lake Ranger District as of Tuesday night.

The estimate of burned structures remained at 22, which officials said breaks down to 12 residences and 10 outbuildings. Another four structures have been damaged.

A substantial increase in resources on the incident occurred on Tuesday, with the number of firefighting personnel nearly doubling to 2,700.

In addition, there are 235 engines, 25 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 58 hand crews and 69 dozers.

There is so far no estimated time of full containment, and the cause remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for 1,500 residents and 600 homes in both the Spring Valley Lakes and Double Eagle Ranch subdivisions, officials said.

An evacuation shelter remained open at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St.

The Red Cross, which is operating the shelter, has had about 26 overnight stays and served more than 50 meals, according to spokeswoman Kathryn Hecht.

“Most importantly, the Red Cross is on location, staffed, stocked and ready to serve,” she said. “Additional cots, blankets and emergency relief supplies are being mobilized now to support relief efforts in case there are additional needs.”

Hecht said the Red Cross is also working closely with government and community partners to coordinate relief efforts. Some of the partners we are working with include The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and Lake County Animal Care and Control.

More evacuees are reported to be sheltering at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge.

The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday issued an advisory warning for east of Walker Ridge area, Wilbur Springs area, Bear Valley and Brim Road.

Road closures remaining in effect are as follows:

Lake County

• New Long Valley Road at Highway 20.
• Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20.
• Walker Ridge at Highway 20.
• Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20.

Colusa County

• Bear Valley Road is closed at Highway 20.
• Bear Valley Road is closed at Brim Road.
• Leesville Lodge Road is closed at Brim Road.

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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One of Lake County’s members of Congress said Wednesday that he and several of his colleagues went to see for themselves a facility housing minors separated from their families after crossing the US border.

Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-05), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Brad Sherman (CA-30) visited a private nonprofit facility in Virginia that houses children separated from their parents at the border as a result of the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy.

The group condemned the family separation policy and called for children to be reunited immediately.

They issued the following joint statement:

“The children we met today have faced unimaginable horrors coming to the United States, and the trauma of that journey is only perpetuated the longer they are separated from their families. Today’s visit only underscored the extreme urgency with which we must work to reunite families and the lasting trauma the Trump Administration’s inhumane policy has caused on thousands of children. While we appreciate that this experienced facility is providing necessary care, no standard of care can meet the needs of children desperate to see their families again and the Administration must present its policy for a swift reunification infrastructure immediately.”

Thompson also released the video above in which he discusses his visit to the facility.

“We need to figure out how to do this right. We can secure our borders. We can improve our immigration system and we can do it in a humane way, in a moral way,” he said. “The way the kids are being treated isn’t about immigration, it’s about morals. We need to get this right.”

He concluded by calling for comprehensive immigration reform and reuniting the children with their parents “as soon as we can.”

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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Jason William Olson Jr., 19, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, for setting fire to a red-tagged building in Clearlake the day before. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man has been arrested for setting fire to a red-tagged building on Monday.

Jason William Olson Jr., 19, was arrested on Tuesday morning, according to a report from Clearlake Police Sgt. Tim Hobbs.

Hobbs said that just after 5 p.m. Monday the Clearlake Police Department responded to a report of a structure fire near Emory Avenue and Lakeshore Drive.

Officers arrived on scene within one minute and found the abandoned red-tagged building at 14668 Lakeshore Drive was on fire, Hobbs said.

A few minutes later personnel from the Lake County Fire Protection District arrived and began to work on extinguishing the fire and preventing the spread of a small grass fire to other properties, he reported.

Hobbs said Officer Daniel Eagle spoke with witnesses and obtained a description of a person seen leaving the building shortly before they fire.

Based on the description, Hobbs said Officer Eagle believed the person was Olson.

Eagle prepared a photographic lineup which was shown to a witness who identified Olson as the person seen leaving the building, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said that at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, Olson was contacted walking behind Safeway in Clearlake.

During an interview, Olson admitted to being in the building and accidentally starting the fire while smoking methamphetamine, Hobbs said.

Olson was arrested for unlawfully causing a fire and later transported to the Lake County Jail, according to Hobbs.

Jail records showed that Olson, whose job is listed as “landscaping,” remained in custody on Wednesday with bail set at $15,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

Police have arrested a man they say set fire to this red-tagged building in Clearlake, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. Courtesy photo.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif.– The county of Lake announced the permanent appointment of two county department heads.

At the board’s meeting on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed David Cowan as Water Resources director and Michalyn DelValle as Community Development director, effective immediately. Both had been named interim directors in April.

DelValle is a nearly life-long Lake County resident, with a strong commitment to public service.

Her bachelor’s degree in management and 10 years’ experience serving in Community Development have prepared DelValle to lead with precision.

In April, DelValle stepped into a challenging situation, with understaffing and workload delays, and immediately began to take insightful and positive steps.

In just over two months, she has brought stability to her department, and set building blocks in place for a vibrant future.

DelValle acknowledges the work is just beginning: “We have many opportunities, from small adjustments to improve the experience of our customers to substantive changes to our land use plans and zoning ordinances to create a more business friendly environment. I look forward to leading Community Development, and working with staff to revitalize and enrich Lake County’s diverse communities.”

Cowan recently came to the county of Lake, bringing more than 20 years of experience in watershed protection, water program management, aquatic biology and fisheries.

He has a Master of Science in aquatic biology, and his strong leadership and communication skills have already made Cowan a valuable partner to county staff and community leaders, alike. Many have particularly remarked upon the improvements made to Highland Springs Park.

“I am excited to continue working with the great people in our Water Resources Department and members of the community to ensure that Clear Lake and our other waterways remain a vital and resilient resource in the future,” said Cowan. “This is a truly beautiful and exceptional area, and it is wonderful to be here and contribute.”

County officials said Cowan and DelValle are “dynamic and collaborative leaders” and the future of their departments is bright.
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On Wednesday, seven and a half years after taking office and inheriting a $27 billion budget deficit, California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed his final state budget, which his office said fills the Rainy Day Fund to the brim and sends record funding to California’s classrooms.

“When I took office back in 2011 with the state facing a $27 billion deficit, I pledged to work with the Legislature to fix California’s financial mess,” said Governor Brown. “Today, the final budget I sign delivers on that pledge and prepares us for the future.”

The governor was joined by Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and budget chairs Senator Holly J. Mitchell and Assemblymember Phil Ting.

“This budget is the product of all of us working together to craft a fiscally responsible plan that serves the people of California while at the same time saves for the future,” said Senate President pro Tempore Atkins. “I especially want to thank Governor Brown’s leadership – in this, his last budget – for helping to bring back California from a historic recession and onto a solid economic footing.”

“Devastating budget cuts first compelled me to run for the Assembly. I thought we needed to do better, and this budget does better,” said Assembly Speaker Rendon. “There is more to do, but by investing in our people and saving for the future, this budget gives us the tools we need to keep doing better.”

“Gov. Brown has done an admirable job in leading our state out of budget deficits to financial stability. This is a spending plan we can be proud of because it makes the right investments and reflects many of California’s values,” said Assemblymember and Assembly Budget Committee Chair Ting. “I’m especially glad we were able to partner with cities and counties to help them address the homeless crisis with unprecedented funding for more shelters and services.”

“This budget strikes an appropriate balance that strengthens our state’s fiscal stability with an unprecedented level of reserves, while prioritizing investments that will address the pressing needs of this state,” said Senator and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Chair Mitchell. “We continue to work toward restoring programs that still have yet to be made whole from devastating cuts during the great recession and prioritize funding to confront the challenges associated with homelessness and disaster response.”

The Governor’s Office outlined the following details of the 2018-19 State Budget:

Saving for uncertain times

The state’s Rainy Day Fund, established by a vote of the people in 2014, saves money when the economy is strong for uncertain times ahead. By the end of 2018-19, the current economic expansion will have matched the longest in post-war history. The budget fully fills the fund, growing the balance to an unprecedented $13.8 billion.

Supporting our schools

The budget increases funding by more than $4,600 per student over 2011-12 levels and directs $78.4 billion in funding to K-14 schools – a 66 percent increase in annual funding from seven years ago. Additionally, the state will fully implement the Local Control Funding Formula, correcting historical inequities in school district funding.

Counteracting the effects of poverty and combatting homelessness

The budget invests $5 billion to help address challenges with affordable housing and homelessness, including providing $500 million to assist local governments in their immediate efforts to help homeless Californians. The state also continues to provide billions of dollars to: raise the state’s minimum wage; grow the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit program; expand health care coverage to millions more Californians; restore low-income health benefits eliminated during the recession; boost CalWORKs grants; and increase child care and early education provider rates and the number of children served.

Strengthening infrastructure

This budget delivers the first full year of funding under Senate Bill 1 – the state’s Road Repair and Accountability Act – with $4.6 billion in new transportation funding in 2018-19. The funding will repair neighborhood roads, state highways and bridges, fill potholes, ease congestion in busy trade and commute corridors and improve and modernize passenger rail and public transit.

Investing in higher education

The budget continues to increase funding for the state’s university and community colleges systems with no tuition or fees hikes and establishes the state’s first-ever online community college. Since 2012, the University of California has received $1.2 billion in new funding, with $1.7 billion for the California State University and $2.4 billion for community colleges over the same period.

Combating climate change

The budget includes a $1.4 billion Cap and Trade Expenditure Plan to invest in programs that further reduce carbon pollution and support climate resiliency efforts, including $210 million for forest improvement and fire prevention projects that protect the state’s forests from wildfires and $334.5 million for the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board to begin the implementation of a multi-year initiative to accelerate sales of zero-emission vehicles through vehicle rebates and infrastructure investments.

Protecting hardworking immigrants

The budget provides $79 million to support hardworking immigrants through a number of legal services programs, including deportation defense, naturalization services and DACA assistance.

The budget and related acts signed by the governor today include the following.

AB 1808 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: education omnibus trailer bill.
AB 1809 by the Committee on Budget – Higher education trailer bill.
AB 1810 by the Committee on Budget – Health.
AB 1811 by the Committee on Budget – Human services omnibus.
AB 1812 by the Committee on Budget – Public safety omnibus.
AB 1817 by the Committee on Budget – State government.
AB 1824 by the Committee on Budget – State government.
AB 1825 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: constitutional minimum funding obligation: local control funding formula.
AB 1826 by the Committee on Budget – State Capitol Building Annex: state office building.
AB 1827 by the Committee on Budget – No Place Like Home Act of 2018.
AB 1830 by the Committee on Budget – Budget Deficit Savings Account: Safety Net Reserve Fund.
AB 1831 by the Committee on Budget – State government: appointments: infrastructure.
AB 1834 by the Committee on Budget – Corrections: omnibus.
SB 840 by Senator Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) – Budget Act of 2018.
SB 841 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Budget Act of 2017: augmentation.
SB 847 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Courts: omnibus.
SB 848 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Transportation.
SB 849 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Medi-Cal.
SB 850 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Housing.
SB 852 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State public employment: memorandum of understanding: State Bargaining Unit 6: approval.
SB 853 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Developmental services.
SB 854 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public resources.
SB 855 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Taxation.
SB 856 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Budget Act of 2018.
SB 866 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Employment.
SB 871 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Income taxes: credits: motion pictures.

For full text of the Budget Act and associated legislation, visit: www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Additional details on the 2018-19 State Budget can be found at www.ebudget.ca.gov.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – As containment rose on the Pawnee fire on Wednesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Spring Valley Lakes residents will be allowed to return home later in the afternoon.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office had implemented the mandatory evacuation order for the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision, located east of Clearlake Oaks, on Saturday evening, within hours of the fire beginning.

Officials said all areas of Spring Valley, New Long Valley and Old Long Valley will be open at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

However, the mandatory evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision, located to the east of Spring Valley, remains in effect, as do road closures on Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20 and Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20, the sheriff’s office said.

The combined evacuation orders have impacted an estimated 1,500 residents and 600 homes, officials said.

The Spring Valley evacuation order was lifted hours after the fire’s size was reported to have reached 13,500 acres – a 500-acre increase since the night before – with containment jumping to 25 percent.

Cal Fire said the number of burned structures remains at 22, with damaged structures still at four.

Resources assigned to the fire on Wednesday included 2,700 firefighters, 235 engines, 25 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 58 hand crews and 69 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Flight tracking also shows tankers at work in the fire area.

Also on Wednesday, the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office lifted the advisory evacuations for areas east of Walker Ridge, north of Highway 20 accessed by Bear Valley Road, Bear Valley and Brim Road, and Leesville and Bear Valley Road.

The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office authorized the removal of the roadblocks in those areas, but said access will only be granted to residents, who will be required to show identification.

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. – Summer in California is a time for many people to enjoy road trips, see the sights and visit new places.

The California Highway Patrol reminds everyone to put safety first and prepare for travel so summer fun does not become summer disaster.

“Good planning will make your trip safer for everyone – the driver, passengers, and other motorists,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Be sure you and your vehicle are both ready for your summer adventures.”

Summer driving can be more dangerous than winter for several reasons. Vacationing motorists, unfamiliar with an area, may create more traffic and drive unpredictably, either admiring scenery or trying to find their way.

More teenagers, who are inexperienced drivers, are likely to be on the road. Road construction occurring during the summer also requires caution.

The CHP offers these tips to help ensure roadway safety:

• Make sure your vehicle is ready for summer. Check the tires, lights, and radiator system. Summer temperatures place extra stress on your vehicle and all systems should be in good condition for safe travel.

• Know your route. Before you leave, research road conditions and construction. The California Department of Transportation has a mobile app for traffic information, or visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov for highway conditions.

• Cell phones can only be used hands-free. However, it is much safer to stop before making or taking calls, even hands-free. Program any mapping devices before you leave.

• Buckle up! Be sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt. Check that young passengers are using the correct child safety seat for their height and weight.

• Never leave pets, children, or the elderly alone in a car for any length of time. California laws address how to handle situations in which children or animals are left in vehicles. However, the best approach if you see an unattended child or animal is to call 9-1-1.

• If your vehicle has a problem, such as a flat tire, move it to a safe location, if possible off of the highway. The shoulder of a roadway, no matter how wide, is not a safe place for repair work.

The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Hundreds more firefighters joined the effort to fully contain the Pawnee fire on Wednesday, with acreage growing modestly and containment rising.

Cal Fire’s Wednesday evening report put the fire’s acreage at 13,700, up by 200 acres from the morning estimate, with 30 percent containment, a 5-percent gain during the day.

Approximately 3,066 firefighters were committed to the incident on Wednesday, along with 234 engines, 33 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 79 hand crews and 71 dozers.

A Cal Fire damage assessment released Wednesday put the total structures impacted at 27. Of those, 22 were destroyed, including 12 homes and 10 outbuildings, and five – three homes and two outbuildings – had minor damage.

Cal Fire said firefighters took advantage of favorable weather conditions to build direct control lines, but heat still continued to be a challenge on the incident.

Experts are developing a plan to repair damage to natural resources caused by fire suppression activities, Cal Fire said.

The improved conditions led to the lifting on Wednesday of the mandatory evacuation of the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision, but officials said evacuations remain in place for Double Eagle Ranch and the area of Walker Ridge.

The evacuation center at Lower Lake High School remains open, and those with animal-related needs can call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Road closures still in effect are New Long Valley Road at Highway 20, Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20, Walker Ridge at Highway 20 and Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20.

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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Racing action during the July 2017 criterium racing event in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.


LAKEPORT, Calif. – For the second time in as many years, the streets of downtown Lakeport will be transformed this weekend into the newest stop in the Northern California‐Nevada Cycling Associations criterium racing calendar.

The free event, dubbed the RPP Hobby Lakeport Twilight Criterium presented by Chevron and Power Market, will offer impressive bicycle road racing in Lakeport on Saturday, June 30.

A criterium, or “crit” for short, is a road bicycle race held on closed downtown city streets in front of thousands of cheering fans and spectators.

This year the schedule for the Lakeport downtown criterium has been adjusted so that the premier categories will be racing under the lights, adding a real “party atmosphere” to the event for spectators and a rare opportunity for the athletes that will be performing in front of large local crowds.

Amy Moor, a member of the Northern California Nevada Cycling Association Board of Directors, said the event is notable for the fact that all prizes are equal between the men’s and women’s racing categories.

World class athletes will race the 0.6-mile long loop that traverses Main Street turning right on Armstrong Street, then right again onto the short but steep pitch of Forbes street before descending at speeds in excess of 40 miles per hour into the 90-degree right-hand turn onto Fourth Street and then right back onto Main Street.

The short yet steep climb up Forbes Street will provide some of the best viewing action for spectators as it often serves as a launch pad for the strongest riders to “attack” the field in attempt to separate themselves from their competitors.

Following a rider or group riders attack, the rest of the field must find the impetus to chase those riders down and bring him or her back the group or risk losing the overall race.

Often times the impetus to chase down the leaders is provided by the officials ringing a cowbell and announcing to the passing group of athletes that the next lap is a “Prime” lap (pronounced “preme”).

On a prime lap, the first rider back across the start finish line on that LAP wins a prize that may be anything from bottle of local Lake County wine or up to $250 cash.

Prime laps are used by the officials to control the tempo of a race and to disrupt individuals or teams from getting away from the rest of the racers by “going off the front” and riding away with an easy win. Prime laps keep the action high enhancing the spectator experience.

Each criterium class or cycling “category” begins as a timed event, with officials keeping track of the average lap times. Using those average lap times, the officials will calculate how many laps the field will make by the end of the preset time.

When the calculations indicate there are approximately 10 laps to go, the race converts to laps and the officials will display “lap cards” to the field letting them know how many laps remain before the end of the race. It is usually at this point that the over tempo and speed of the race begins to climb as the excitement of a pack sprint finish builds.

The fastest lap times of this year’s course are expected to be in the 1 minute 20 second range, which means the pro categories could be doing over 60 laps

The inaugural Lakeport Downtown Criterium was held in July 2017. Athlete attendance was on the low side due mainly to the fact that the contingent of criterium racers on the west coast had no idea the tiny lakefront town of Lakeport even existed and July was extremely hot.

The athletes and teams that did attend in 2017 were greeted with hospitality rarely seen at any other event, as well the beauty of downtown Lakeport and Clear Lake. Those athletes left Lakeport last year vowing to report back to others of this amazing new downtown crit and the diamond that was found in Lakeport and Lake County.

Through social media, images and reviews of Lakeport and the downtown criterium spread like wildfire, with athletes making early plans to attend in 2018.

Children also have the opportunity to race in the criterium biking event in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.


New for 2018 is a schedule change and rebranding the event as the “RPP Hobby Lakeport Twilight Criterium presented by Chevron & Power Market.” By revising the race schedule so that the premier professional categories will start their racing at sunset, the event is now known as a “twilight crit.”

Downtown “twilight” or “sunset” crits are becoming increasingly rare in the United States with Lakeport now being only one of two in Northern California. The biggest West Coast sunset criterium is the San Rafael Sunset Criterium held every July in downtown San Rafael, which is the event that the Lakeport Twilight Criterium is modeled after.

Also new for 2018 will be a free race for kids sponsored and hosted by the Lake County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Local deputy sheriffs will be on hand to pass out official race bib numbers, ice cream and popsicles, medals and even cash prizes for the kids that make the “podium.”

Additionally, Chevron and Power Market will be raffling off a new bike to one lucky spectator. Come down to the Chevron booth to get your name in the drawing.

This year’s event will feature local professional announcer Martin Scheel alongside Charles “Chuck” Hutcheson, former elite cyclist well know cycling personality from the Herbalife24/MarcPro Strava Race team, calling all the action while playing some great music.

O’Meara Brothers brewery is the official beer of the Lakeport Twilight Criterium and will be featured along with several Lake County wineries providing beer and wine at the beer garden. VIP access passes will be available for sale that gives spectators access to covered trackside seating on the start finish line and includes hosted beer, wine and pizza delivered by Stonefire Pizza.

Join the party on Saturday afternoon, get a free cowbell, and other schwag, line Main Street and the Forbes Street climb and be witness to some of the best free sporting entertainment Lakeport has to offer.

To learn more visit www.lakeportcrit.com and follow @lakeportcrit on instagram and RPP Hobby Lakeport Twilight Criterium on Facebook for up-to-the-minute information.
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The Pawnee fire smoke plume as seen in satellite imagery on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. Photo courtesy of EOSDIS.


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Air quality and health officials reported Tuesday that the Pawnee fire is the source of the smoke plumes and haze that can be seen throughout Lake County.

Smoke was noticeable throughout Lake County in the overnight hours, with most areas experiencing light smoke or haze, according to the Lake County Air Quality Management District.

The agency said some areas close to the fire and at higher elevation may have been in the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive individual ranges.

Weather forecasts indicate “good” to “moderate” conditions should return by mid-afternoon through most of lake county air basin.

Officials said all residents should be prepared for smoke to settle into the area during the overnight hours until the fire is out.

The Lake County Quality Management District reported on Tuesday that air quality conditions remained in the good range for most of the county.

However, the overnight forecast indicates a potential for settling of smoke into the basin. In areas that become impacted by smoke “moderate” to “unhealthy” air quality may be experienced.

Similar conditions are expected Wednesday, though north by north east winds are forecast Tuesday night into Wednesday, which could bring more smoke into the basin. Slight variations in the wind direction can result in significant smoke impacts.

Conditions can change quickly from “good” to “unhealthy,” and this may be the pattern for the next few days, officials said.

Localized areas may experience intermittent particulate levels in the “moderate” to “unhealthy” range. All areas of Lake County may be significantly impacted should meteorological conditions worsen, the air district reported.

Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Goldgraben advised residents to be cautious in resuming normal outdoor activities when smoke is present in your area.

“Variable weather conditions and ongoing fire activity may result in localized areas of reduced air quality, which could still pose health risks to people with underlying health conditions. Since we can’t always predict when and where ‘pockets’ of poor air quality may occur, it is prudent to be careful until conditions stabilize,” she said.

Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages, which can be hazardous in young children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions or 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. They should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion. 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.

Dust masks are not protective against the most harmful pollutants caused by wildfire smoke that drifts to nearby areas. They are useful in filtering out the ash and larger particles that are encountered in burn areas. Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing harmful particulate matter, but also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.

The “good” to moderate” air quality forecast results from lower levels of fine particulates in the smoke and the possibility of increased ground level ozone. These are generated when combustion products in the smoke combine with the high temperatures, sunlight, and humidity. Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates. Localized areas of unhealthy air, regional haze, and particulate from this fire can be expected until the fire is out.

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