LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club is proud to announce two Smokey Bear Poster winners.

The winners are Sawyer Shucart, fourth grader at Terrace Heights, and Kamila Garcia Hernandez, second grader at Lakeport Elementary.

These posters have been sent to the California State Garden Club Inc. for the State poster competition.

With the images of the Ranch and River fires fresh in our minds, we know wildfires are a real threat to Lake County residents.

The U.S. Forest Service and the National Garden Clubs Inc. work together each year to sponsor the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest.

This year is Smokey's 75th anniversary. Smokey Bear's first poster was prepared on Aug. 9, 1944. Smokey is famous for his slogan, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

In 2002 this slogan was updated to, “Only you can prevent wildfires,” in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires throughout the U.S.

Since 2000, Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club has sponsored the contest locally. First through fifth graders are invited to demonstrate their understanding of fire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles through original drawing of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl.

The club encourages first through fifth graders to enter next year's contest. The Grand Prize National Poster winner wins a free trip to Washington D.C., and a $100 U.S. Saving Bond.

All poster entries must be sponsored by Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club. Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl contest rules can be found at www.gardenclub.org/youth.

For further information contact Marilyn Guenther at 707-263-7927 or Linda Waterstraat at 707-245-4731. All contest entries must be submitted by Dec. 18.

The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club is a member of the MendoLake District of the California Garden Club, Inc. Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs, Inc. The club welcomes new members and information can be found by visiting www.clttgc.org, or call Kathleen at 707-500-5009.