An old bell gets a new life in Lakeport this week. It’s called the curfew bell, and years ago, it would ring to announce the city curfew–meaning kids on the street had to head home. The bell went silent years ago, but now it sits in the middle of a new monument in Lakeport’s Xabatin part that will be dedicated Wednesday. The city worked with the Lakeport Rotary Club to restore it after Lake County News reports Public Works Superintendent Jim Kennedy found it forgotten and in storage at the Lake County Fairgrounds. It’s been installed in the park and will be dedicated in a ceremony on Wednesday evening starting at 5:30. Rotarian Mark Lipps says the bell will be part of the club’s plan to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors will discuss a permit for a major cannabis grow outside Lakeport. The Board will continue a hearing from August when it debated an appeal of Planning Commission approval for Highland Farms, next to the Highland Springs Recreation Area. The planning department would like supervisors to delay their decision again so they can review documents about the project. Also on the board agenda are routine items and a closed session to hear about a lawsuit involving the Potter Valley Hydroelectric project and to appoint a new county Animal Control director. The meeting starts at 9:00 at the courthouse in Lakeport.
A no-contest plea by a man from Clearlake accused of illegal gun possession. The Record-Bee reports Christopher Ford entered the plea, accepting the conviction without admitting guilt. Ford was arrested in January after an investigation into illegal guns led to a warrant and raid on his home on 27th Avenue. His plea covers a charge of possession of an assault weapon. Other charges against him were dismissed. Lake County Superior Court will sentence Ford next month.
The deadline to register online for November 5th has passed. The deadline passed at midnight, but if you missed it, you’ll still be able to vote. You have to go to the county registrar of voters office, where you can sign up as a conditional voter and be able to cast a ballot in person through 8 PM on election day. If you want to check your registration status, you can check at the website register to vote dot ca dot gov. That is where you can also find information about returning your mail-in ballots–and other election-related questions like where you can vote or drop off your ballot. A lot of voters have already done that. The latest count shows nearly two million Californians have already made their choices and voted early. That’s about 10 percent of the state’s registered voters so far. Officials expect that early voting will make up more than 85 percent of all ballots by the time election day rolls around, two weeks from today.
CHP is planning a program it hopes can reduce crashes and fatalities involving teen drivers. The Start Smart program is a free two-hour class for newly licensed drivers to teach them about highway safety. It also involves parents and guardians to highlight their influence on young drivers. In addition to the classes, the program has an app with safe driving information. CHP’s website has information on the initiative.
