News Flash – Lake County Record-Bee

ST HELENA

CAL FIRE is lifting the fire permit suspension effective Friday

Effective Friday, November 1, at 8 a.m., the burn permit suspension will be lifted. Cooler temperatures, higher humidity and the possibility of winter weather have helped reduce the risk of wildfires.

Property owners and residents are asked to exercise caution when burning debris or farming, follow all guidelines provided, and maintain fire control at all times. Individuals may be held civil and/or criminally liable if they allow a fire to escape their control and/or burn onto neighboring property.

Residents wishing to conduct a burn MUST ensure that it is a permitted burn day prior to the burn.

• Bay Area Air Quality Management District for southern Sonoma and Napa counties: 1-877-466-2876
• Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District: 707-565-2876
• Lake County Air Quality Management District: 707-994-4444

Stack burning requirements

• Only dry, natural plant material such as leaves, pine needles and tree remains may be burned.
• Burning of garbage, painted wood or other waste is not permitted.
• DO NOT burn on windy days.
• Piles should not be larger than 1.20 m in diameter and height.
• Clear 10 feet of diameter around your posts to bare ground.
• Have a shovel and a water source nearby.
• An adult must be present at all times during the fire.

For more information about burning, visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov

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CLEARLAKE

The one-day Wings of Hope camp is available on Saturday

Families with children ages 6 and older who have experienced the death of an important person in their life are invited to learn more about attending the next one-day overnight camp, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at one location is planned in Clearlake. Lunch and snacks are served. Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Hospice Services of Lake County staff and volunteers provide a variety of services in a compassionate response to the unique ways children and families grieve and heal after the death of loved ones. Wings of Hope Camp has been limited to families for over 24 years.

Camp activities at camp are focused on healing from loss and grief in a fun and positive environment.

Participants will enjoy music, art and games. These lively activities are designed to help participants learn new coping strategies by providing opportunities to learn new healthy tools for coping with loss. A refundable deposit of $25 is required to reserve your space.

For more information about family support groups or to register for camp, contact Kathleen or Michelle at Hospice Services of Lake County, (707) 263-6222 or email [email protected] or melola@ lakecountyhospice.org.

The mission of Hospice Services of Lake County is to support people through the highest quality palliative, emotional and spiritual care that assists patients and their families who are on the journey to the end of life. For more information, contact Hospice Services of Lake County at (707) 263-6222. Find us on Facebook or visit the organization’s website at www.lakecountyhospice.org.

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SACRAMENTO

Government investments to combat retail theft resulted in the arrests of over 10,000 people

California's largest single investment to date in funding local law enforcement efforts to combat retail and property crime continues to pay dividends. Today, the state reported that law enforcement agencies that received organized retail theft grants used the Governor's investments totaling more than $267 million to make 10,138 arrests and hire additional law enforcement officers and staff.

The Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Prevention Grant is a competitive funding initiative for city police, county sheriffs and probation departments to combat retail, motor vehicle and property theft. Through a $242 million federal investment, 31 municipal police departments and seven sheriff's offices increased arrests by 46% last quarter, bringing a total of 10,138 suspects into custody, including nearly 8,000 for organized retail theft. The ORT Vertical Prosecution Grant, which provides $24.8 million to 13 district attorneys' offices, has resulted in indictments against 1,643 organized crime suspects, with 467 people convicted to date.

Local support to combat organized retail crime

Governor Newsom has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, hire more police officers and improve public safety. The action builds on the Governor's Real Public Safety Plan, which focuses on strengthening local law enforcement responses, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable, and removing guns and drugs from our streets, including through the Deploying the California Highway Patrol to hot spots across the state.

As part of Governor Newsom's strategy to improve public safety, CHP launched a multi-year recruiting campaign in 2022 to fill 1,000 officer positions by hiring qualified individuals from California's diverse communities. CHP is well on its way to achieving its goal. During the first six months of 2024, the CHP received more than 11,700 cadet applications – a 58% increase over the same period in 2022. The next CHP graduation will take place in November.

Last year, the California Highway Patrol reported a 310% annual increase in proactive operations to combat organized retail crime, as well as special operations operations across the state to combat crime and improve public safety. And as of January 2024, the CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force is on track to surpass 2023 work by making 1,123 arrests and recovering more than $8 million in stolen merchandise.

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