Caltrans has launched its new “QuickMap,” an online service that provides California motorists with real-time traffic and travel information that will allow them to make better decisions about how to reach their destination more rapidly.

To access Caltrans QuickMap, visit the Caltrans site at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov .

“A wide range of useful information is now easily accessible to help motorists avoid congestion and reduce their travel times,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “This exciting innovation delivers real-time data so travelers can adjust their routes to get where they’re going as quickly as possible.”

Visitors to the online interactive travel map can access nearly 1,000 freeway cameras and more than 700 electronic message signs on highways statewide.

They also can monitor traffic congestion, California Highway Patrol incidents, travel time information, lane closures due to highway roadwork, and Amber Alerts.

Other helpful features of the service include chain control information and color-coded traffic speed displays for freeways statewide.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A fire burning near Cow Mountain in Mendocino County has been fully contained.

The North Fire, burning since shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday, was located off Mill Creek Road near Cow Mountain, southeast of Ukiah.

Cal Fire reported that the fire was 100-percent contained on Monday evening, after having burned a total of 385 acres. No structures were damaged, but one injury was reported.

Approximately 375 personnel remained on scene Monday, along with 25 engines, 20 fire crews, one air tanker, four helicopters, one bulldozer and four water tenders, according to Cal Fire.

The effort to get the fire under control involved many local and state agencies.

Along with Cal Fire, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District, Ukiah City Fire, Little Lake Fire Protection District, Redwood Valley Fire Protection District, Long Valley Fire Protection District, Hopland Fire District and Ukiah Ambulance Service participated.  

Cal Fire said crews will continue to straighten line construction and mop up at the scene.

Also on Monday, the Bureau of Land Management reopened the Cow Mountain Recreation Area to the public.

The cause is still under investigation, but Cal Fire said Monday that it’s asking for the public’s help in getting more information about what may have sparked the blaze.

Potential witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call Cal Fire investigators at the agency’s Arson Hotline, 800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.        

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

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A fire burning since Saturday afternoon in Mendocino County is nearing full containment.

The North Fire was first reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday off Mill Creek Road near Cow Mountain, southeast of Ukiah.

On Sunday evening, Cal Fire’s Mendocino Unit said the fire had reached 420 acres and was 80 percent contained.

The cause remains under investigation, although officials received reports of a possible arson suspect.

According to the latest update, one injury was reported and no structures were threatened.

As a result of the fire, the Bureau of Land Management had closed the nearby recreation area, Cal Fire reported. Several roads east of the the city of Ukiah also were closed.

Approximately 536 personnel were on scene Sunday, 431 of them from Cal Fire, according to the end-of-day report.

There also were 19 engines, 17 fire crews, six airtankers, two dozers and six water tenders, Cal Fire said. Five of the engines and two of the fire crews came from assisting agencies.

Cooperating agencies in the fire suppression effort include the Mendocino County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District, Ukiah City Fire, Little Lake Fire Protection District, Redwood Valley Fire Protection District, Long Valley Fire Protection District, Hopland Fire District and Ukiah Ambulance Service.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Clearlake woman has been found guilty of elder abuse as the result of a physical fight that occurred last December.

Katie Ann Key was found guilty of felony elder abuse likely to cause great bodily injury, and additional charges of elder abuse and dependent adult abuse for allegedly assaulting Christina Warrington of Clearlake on Dec. 1, 2011.

At the time of the incident, Key was 19 and Warrington was 46, according to the original incident reports.

Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson said the guilty verdict was handed down on Friday, July 20, at the end of a trial that ran about three days.

Key is to be sentenced on Wednesday, Aug. 22, according to her attorney, Tom Quinn.

Quinn said he will ask the court to reduce the principal felony elder abuse charge to a misdemeanor at sentencing, as he asserted her conduct did not pose a danger of great bodily injury to Warrington.

He said Key – a young mother with no criminal record – regrets the incident and has taken responsibility for it, but said it was a mutual fight.

Quinn also said Key was not Warrington’s caregiver, as had originally been reported, although she had helped Warrington out occasionally. He said Warrington conceded that on the stand.

Police had reported at the time of the incident that Key and Warrington got into a fight on the side of the road of Old Highway 53 near Highway 53, not far from the trailer park where they both lived.

If the charge remains a felony, Abelson said Key could face up to four years in prison.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cal Fire officials reported that a wildland fire on Saturday burned a total of 70 acres near the Rodman Slough.

The fire broke out shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday near a pile of trash on the side of Westlake Road near the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, as Lake County News has reported.

On Monday, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Linda Green, the incident commander, said the final mapping of the fire put it at at total of 70 acres, double the original estimate given at the fire scene Saturday.

The fire scorched a large pasture and burned toward the Rodman Preserve before the wind shifted, Green said.

It got to the side of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, where it burned blackberry bushes and ran up a hill on the other side of the road. The California Highway Patrol had the road shut down for several hours as firefighters worked in the area.

About an hour into the incident, a second fire – sparked by embers given off by the main blaze – began in a nearby vineyard. Cal Fire air tankers and a helicopter responded, helping keep the fire from homes and other structures.

Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service firefighters from the Mendocino National Forest, Northshore Fire, Lakeport Fire, Kelseyville Fire, Lake County Fire and South Lake County Fire all sent resources to fight the fire.

As for the fire’s cause, Green said it remains under investigation.

“I talked to the investigator earlier today and they’re still following up on witness statements,” she said.

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

I had the good fortune to attend a cooking class the other night on sweet and savory tarts from the Provence region of France.
 
One particularly delicious offering, a beautifully colorful ratatouille tart, was topped with a mixture of chopped fresh parsley and tarragon while still warm from the oven. The dish was so elevated by the subtle licorice-like notes of tarragon that I was inspired to research and write about the herb.
 
As interesting an herb as it is, unless one was taught to cook by a French grandmother, it’s unlikely that tarragon is utilized much in the average American kitchen.
 
As intimated by the reference to a French grandmother, it’s beloved and well-used in France, and, among other things, is one of the four herbs that make up the classic “fines herbes” quartet from that country, along with chervil, parsley and chives.
 
It’s a unique herb, one that’s been described as being “strong and particular,” and because of this, using a light hand and employing caution in combining it with other herbs is wise.
 
The roots of tarragon – literally – go back long ago to Siberia, when a native perennial species of tarragon there produced a sterile subspecies with the scent and taste of anise.
 
Because the new plant produced no viable seed, it’s surmised that it was propagated by rooting stem cuttings or dividing its roots to replant.
 
The plant spread through human means, moving south to Arab lands, then west to North Africa and north to Spain, being finally brought from Spain to France during the Moorish invasion.
 
It was received enthusiastically in France, becoming an indispensable part of their cuisine and earning the name French tarragon.
 
The herb has been divided or stem-rooted thousands of times since then, making each French tarragon plant part of that original seedless plant in Siberia.
 
Tarragon is considered a good companion planting in the garden, being said to enhance the well-being of almost every other plant it’s near.
 
If buying French tarragon for the garden or an herb pot, be sure it’s true French tarragon and not the more mildly flavored Russian tarragon. Break off a leaf and crush it to be sure the characteristic smell and taste of anise with a resinous note is present.
 
A quaint recommendation for harvesting the leaves is “between midsummer and Michaelmas.” (I had to look up the meaning of Michaelmas, and this feast of the Archangel Michael is celebrated on Sept. 29.)
 
Tarragon is beautiful with salmon, sole and other fish, shellfish such as prawns and lobster, and meats such as chicken, other poultry and pork.
 
Since it works well with citrus flavors – all of them, including lime, orange, and even grapefruit – a sauce of tarragon, Meyer lemon juice, shallots and olive oil may be created to add bright flavor to most cooked vegetables and fish.
 
Just thinking of such a sauce sprinkled over fresh asparagus or a salad with shaved fennel (another good companion for tarragon) puts me in herbal heaven.
 
Spinach is enhanced by the flavor of tarragon, and the next time I put fresh leaves of spinach in a pot to steam, I’ll be sure to scatter scant bits of the herb among them.
 
French béarnaise sauce (a “child” of the mother sauce Hollandaise) is flavored with tarragon.
 
Speaking of sauces, Julia Child suggests making a reduction of white wine with tarragon to add to rich béchamel sauce, to which more butter is added. (In my opinion, the white-wine tarragon reduction alone – or perhaps with a little butter added - would be lovely drizzled over fish or vegetables.)
 
Adding tarragon to cold or warm salads of chicken or potatoes provides a creative means of flavoring them.
 
It’s delicious with tomatoes, mushrooms or peas, it can be tossed in a fresh green salad, it flavors Green Goddess and French salad dressings, and goes especially well with egg dishes.
 
Chopped fresh tarragon and a bit of lemon juice may be mixed with softened butter to make a flavorful compound butter.
 
Tarragon is popularly used to flavor vinegar, and the resulting product is a key ingredient when composing homemade tartar sauce. The French commonly use tarragon vinegar when making mustard, and it can be used to enhance vinaigrette salad dressings.
 
While tarragon vinegar is available commercially, making it at home is a simple process. There are numbers of variations on the recipe, and one version is included below for your use or for gift-giving.
 
Though there is some folklore related to tarragon (including that it reduces fatigue, prompting pilgrims of the Middle Ages to tuck the herb in their shoes prior to a long journey), there is little indication of its use throughout history as medicine, unlike most culinary herbs.
 
Even so, scientific studies show that tarragon reduces platelet adhesion and blood coagulation (possibly helping to prevent cardiovascular disease), improves digestion by increasing the secretion of bile and acids into the stomach, may help manage diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity, kills cancer-causing bacteria, and is an antiviral agent that helps rid the body of damaging free radicals.

 
The flavorful oils in tarragon (chemically identical to anise’s volatile oils) dissipate after drying, so the fresh herb is more pungent and intense than the dried version. This is atypical of herbs, since drying concentrates the flavor of most.
 
Thankfully, fresh tarragon may be preserved by freezing in airtight zipper-sealed bags. No defrosting is needed before use.
 
Since heat greatly intensifies the flavor of both dried and fresh tarragon, it’s best added at the last stages of cooking.
 
And it shouldn’t be too finely chopped, as cutting it causes the herb to oxidize, giving it a bad flavor. A few rough cuts should suffice.
 
The recipe I chose for tarragon vinegar is a basic one that doesn’t require heating the vinegar prior to pouring over the herb, although that’s an option to enhance the flavor infusion.
 
The recipe calls for white wine vinegar, but unseasoned rice vinegar or champagne vinegar are also nice choices.
 
In addition to the vinegar, I’ve included a simple and delicious recipe that utilizes France’s “fines herbes” combo in an omelet. Any two or three of the herbs would be fine if all four aren’t available.
 
Bon appétit! I hope you enjoy testing tasty tarragon.
 
Omelet aux fines herbes (omelet with fresh herbs)

6 eggs
1 tablespoon each chopped fresh tarragon, chives, chervil, and parsley
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until combined and season them lightly with salt and pepper. Mix the chopped herbs together in a separate bowl and then stir 1/4 of them into the eggs.

Heat one tablespoon of butter in a medium nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted, pour in the eggs and let them set for a few seconds. As you tilt the pan to fill the space with uncooked egg, pull the cooked egg away from the sides of the pan. Put the pan back on the stove and let the omelet set again, another minute or so.
 
Sprinkle the surface of the omelet with the rest of the fresh herbs. Fold the omelet in half with a heatproof spatula. Cook one more minute for a slightly runny omelet.
 
This recipe courtesy of www.cookthink.com serves three or four.
 
Tarragon vinegar

2 cups fresh tarragon
2 cups white wine vinegar
Additional sprig tarragon for decoration
Container for steeping the vinegar
Decorative glass bottles with lids or stoppers
 
Bruise the tarragon leaves lightly to release the flavor.
 
Pack the leaves into a container. (A glass Mason jar with a screw-top lid works well.)
Pour the vinegar over the leaves in the container.
 
Cover the container and leave it for two to three weeks. This will draw out the flavor of the tarragon in the vinegar.
 
When flavor is as desired, strain the vinegar and pour into decorative glass bottles.
 
Add one sprig of tarragon per bottle, put on the lid or stopper, label, and date.
 
Recipe adapted from www.wikihow.com .

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. .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Lightning is being blamed for about a third of the wildland fires that burned around California this past week.

More than 225 new fires burned just over 1,000 acres over the past week, Cal Fire reported.

Early in the week, 2,800 lightning strikes sparked approximately 73 of the week’s fires, most of which were contained at small spots, according to the agency.

The largest of the lightning fires was the Gopher Fire, which Cal Fire said burned 75 acres in Calaveras County and was 100 percent contained July 23.

Also contained over the last week were the Amador Lightning Complex, which included 19 fires that burned 41 acres; the Paskenta Fire in Tehama County, which burned 300 acres; and the Penn Fire in Calaveras County, 134 acres.

Officials are anticipating a continued drying trend and the potential for thunderstorms over the coming week, and are urging people to be careful when clearing vegetation.

See Cal Fire’s full Fire Situation Report above.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A six-month-long amnesty program that ended June 30 took in just under $100,000 for Lake County.

The Administrative Office of the Courts offered the program from January through June, as Lake County News has reported.

Superior courts throughout California – including Lake’s – participated in the program, which allowed individuals to pay off old traffic tickets with a 50-percent reduction. Parking tickets, DUIs and reckless driving citations were not eligible for the program.

A report provided to Lake County News by Lake County Treasurer-Tax Collector Sandra Shaul showed that Lake County collected approximately $99,792.86 on 207 cases. The county must pay $30,369.70 on those collections.

Shaul called it “better than nothing but a drop in the bucket.”

That’s because Lake County has 12,748 such cases that remain outstanding, with those cases valued at just over $12 million, according to Shaul’s report on the amnesty program.

Of the funds collected, $7,965.73 will go toward the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, $2,842.06 to the Trial Court Trust Fund and $1,249.11 to the Trial Court Improvement Fund, Shaul’s report showed.

Shaul said her staff will be evaluating the accounts receivable for aging and low value to determine what outstanding accounts might merit discharge.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – There’s a new group of hopeful canines at the county’s animal shelter this week.

Mixes of border collie, kelpie, boxer and terrier are available to join your family.

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”).

Border collie mix pup

This female border collie mix is 3 months old.

She has a short black and white coat and big brown eyes.

Find her in kennel No. 10, ID No. 33714.

Silky-wirehaired terrier mix

This male silky-wirehaired terrier mix is 3 years old.

He has a long brown and gray coat, a docked tail and has not been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 12, ID No. 33681.

Fox terrier mix

The female fox terrier mix is 2 years old.

She has a short black and white coat, and has not been spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 15, ID No. 33604.

Chihuahua-terrier mix

This female Chihuahua-terrier mix is 8 years old.

She weighs 9 pounds, has a short tan coat and has been spayed.

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

‘Slick’

“Slick” is a 3-year-old male Australian Kelpie mix.

He has a short tricolor coat and weighs just over 42 pounds.

Find him in kennel No. 22, ID No. 33397.

Male boxer mix

This male boxer mix is 2 years old.

He has a short brown coat and a short tail.

He’s in kennel No. 23, ID No. 33691.

Male mastiff mix pup

This male mastiff mix pup is 17 weeks old.

He has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 32a, ID No. 33551.

Male mastiff mix pup

This male mastiff mix pup is 17 weeks old.

He has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 32b, ID No. 33552.

Female mastiff mix pup

This female mastiff mix pup is 17 weeks old.

She has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find her in kennel No. 32c, ID No. 33551.

Female mastiff mix pup

This female mastiff mix pup is 17 weeks old.

She has a short black coat with white markings, and has not yet been altered.

Find her in kennel No. 33b, ID No. 33555.

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. .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The 159th edition of the California State Fair and “Fun That Moves You” came to a close Sunday night with the final fireworks salute of the summer.

The 2012 Fair saw roller-coaster temperatures, ranging from a high of 105 degrees on opening day to a low of 56 degrees on July 13, along with a successful concert series, several value days for families, lots of new fair food – on and off the stick – and a few records broken.

On Saturday, July 21, total attendance was 60,386, the biggest single-day crowd of the 18-day fair. That night, approximately 6,500 fairgoers watched country singer and “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery perform on the Golden1 Stage.

On July 27, legendary rockers Joan Jett & the Blackhearts drew the largest crowd of the 2012 Concert Series, with 7,250 fans.

Paid attendance for the fair was 523,838, which was up slightly from 522,375 in 2011. Total attendance was 691,822. The average daily attendance was 38,435. All reported numbers are preliminary and unaudited.

The new Wells Fargo Savings Days on Wednesdays offered $6 admission for everyone and $15 unlimited-ride wristbands – and proved to be a huge success.

The 54,610 fairgoers on July 18 set an attendance record for a Wednesday, only to be surpassed the following Wednesday when 58,255 people came through the gate. Attendance for the two Kids Days, on Tuesdays, totaled 105,473.

“We have a clear understanding that the economy and weather go hand-in-hand,” said State Fair General Manager Norb Bartosik. “Price points and budgets affect our business, and the economic downturn found our patrons shopping for the best deal and days to visit the fair. Overall, this has been a great State Fair. It will take us awhile to finalize all of our numbers, but it looks fairly positive.”

Over eight days, 460 horses and mules competed in 68 races at the Miller Lite Grandstand, including 56 Thoroughbred races, three Arabian races, three quarter horse races and six mule races.

Fans wagered $1.6 million at Cal Expo, $9.9 million at off-track betting centers in California, $3.4 million at out-of-state locations, and $4.7 million on the Internet.

Those wagers generated $750,000 to Cal Expo, which offset the expense of operating the race meet. A total of $990,000 was paid out in purse money to all horses and mules.

The livestock program continued in popularity with more than 5,000 animals shown and competed in the Livestock Pavilion.

Among the features of this year’s fair were the National Angora Goat Show, and the first National Day of the Cowboy and Cowgirl. California is the second state to pass such a resolution and the first to specify “cowgirl,” as well as “cowboy.”

Twenty-nine California counties participated in the Counties Exhibits. Solano County won the Best of Show award.

For the first time, the State Fair donated produce harvested from “The Farm” to local charities. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and California Emergency Foodlink received nearly 2,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables grown at the three-acre demonstration farm.

More than 170 vendors delighted fairgoers with new and innovative food creations, including chocolate-covered wine grapes, chocolate-dipped Key lime pie, deep-fried mac ‘n’ cheese, deep-fried cheeseburger, and pork chop on a stick. Also new to the Fair was the Big Rib, a massive 24-ounce piece of U.S. Prime seasoned beef, slow-cooked onto a 17-inch rib. Hungry fairgoers consumed more than 2,000 Big Ribs.

Mark S. Allen of “Good Day Sacramento” won the media invitational Big Rib Eat-Off in 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Minnesotan Eric Dahl ate 20 corn dogs in eight minutes to win the second annual California State Fair Corn Dog-Eating Competition and the $2,500 grand prize.

Over 18 days, fairgoers enjoyed 3,800 Big Ribs; 5,000 pounds of rice; 25,000 cinnamon rolls; and 200,000 corn dogs.
 
Fairgoers also witnessed two successful Guinness World Record attempts.  

On July 13, Nick Nicora of Ovations – official concessionaire of the State Fair and Cal Expo – mixed the world’s largest cocktail, a 10,500-gallon Margarita called the Calarita, and set a world record.

On July 23-24, Christina Lochmiller of Roseville set her own record when she rode the Eagle 16 Ferris wheel in the Magical Midway for 26 hours, 43 minutes, to bring awareness to children with congenital heart disease.

On July 25, a Canadian man broke Lochmiller’s record with a 30-hour Ferris wheel ride.)

Angel “Izumi” Jones of Fair Oaks outsang the competition to win the 2012 California State Fair Karaoke Competition and $500.

Concert headliners on the Golden1 Stage, in addition to Scotty McCreery, were Cody Simpson, Rick Springfield, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Dave Mason, Hot Chelle Rae, Jim Messina, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Fab Four – The Ultimate Tribute, and the Happy Together Tour with the Turtles, featuring Flo & Eddie, Monkees lead singer Mickey Dolenz, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, the Grassroots and the Buckinghams. Radio Disney’s Coco Jones performed an afternoon show on the Golden1 Stage.
 
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk brought his Birdhouse Left Coast Tour to the Miller Lite Grandstand for one night. The Sacramento Mile returned to the fair for a night of thrills, witnessed by more than 5,200 motorcycle fans.

Friends of the California State Fair’s annual Brewfest drew large crowds to sample award-winning brews from the Craft Brew Competition.

The last night of the 2012 California State Fair saw huge crowds at Gran Jaripeo con Ezequiel Pena y Mucho Mas, a six-hour spectacular in the Ford Horse Show & Rodeo Arena, featuring bull-riding, a dance and Mexican entertainer Ezequiel Pena.
 
Once again, the California State Fair had a successful Commercial Wine Competition, held in June, when 2,890 wines were received from 688 wineries. Cal Expo will host California’s Grape & Gourmet on Aug. 18. Tickets are on sale now at www.calexpo.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – There is another group of hopeful cats – mostly tabbies – awaiting homes at the county’s animal shelter this week.

The five cats available for adoption range in age from 9 weeks old to 7 years, males and females, long hair and short hair – something for every family.

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”).

Adult gray tabby

This male gray tabby is 1 year old.

He weighs 7.4 pounds, has a long coat and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 11, ID 33504.

Male tabby kitten

This male brown tabby kitten is 9 weeks old.

He has a short coat and has not yet been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 23, ID No. 33506.

Female gray and white tabby

This female tabby is 2 years old.

She has a short gray and white coat, gold eyes and has not yet been spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 46, ID No. 33740.

Domestic long hair mix

This female kitten is 16 weeks old.

She has a long black coat and green eyes. She has not yet been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 53, ID No. 33249.

‘Flower’

“Flower” is a 7-year-old female gray tabby.

She has a long coat and has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 57, ID No. 33708.

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.

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

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The closure order for the Mill Fire area was adjusted on Saturday, restoring access to Letts Lake, while maintaining the closure within most of the fire perimeter on the Mendocino National Forest.

The new closure order opened up the M10 Road access to the north of the fire, including access to the recreation sites on the southern portion of the Snow Mountain Wilderness. On the south, it reestablishes access to Goat Mountain Road.  

The closure includes roads and popular off-highway vehicle trails that were damaged in the wildfire.

Residents and landowners or lessees of land within the closure area are exempt from the order to the extent necessary to access their property.

The forest is currently involved in Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) evaluation and activities to address the damage from the Mill Fire.

This includes looking at vegetation, soils and the watershed, as well as roads, trails and facilities in the area.

“We are happy to be able to allow the public to access Letts Lake and the Snow Mountain Wilderness from the M10 Road again,” said Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune. “We are asking the public to respect the closure order for the majority of the Mill Fire area, including roads and trails within the burned acreage.  This will help us maintain public and firefighter safety, as well as safely continue our work to stabilize and rehabilitate these areas to protect the natural resources and provide for future visitor use.”

The Mill Fire started Saturday, July 7, and consumed more than 29,500 acres between the Letts Lake area and the community of Stonyford on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest.

Violation of the closure order is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.

For more information, please visit www.fs.usda.gov//mendocino or contact the Forest at 530-934-3316.