Opinion
- Details
- Written by: Howard Glasser
I want to be sure that the Caltrans director for our district acknowledges their crew that came to my rescue Friday afternoon Feb. 9 and helped me out of a perilous situation that was both life-threatening and could have caused a serious accident involving other vehicles, if not for the emergency roadside assistance they rendered.
Friday afternoon shortly after 2 p.m., I was driving in the southbound lane on Soda Bay Road (Highway 281) heading towards Highway 29 when my car suddenly stalled, forcing me to pull off to the side of Soda Bay Road at a location just north of Tenino Way which intersects Soda Bay Road prior to Point Lakeview Road.
This was an emergency situation for myself and other drivers on the road at this time because my car stalled on what is a winding portion of Soda Bay Road, without enough room for me to adequately move my vehicle from blocking traffic approaching from behind, though I had pulled as far to the right as possible before my vehicle came to a complete stop.
It was raining at the time of the incident with slippery road conditions and reduced visibility. My headlights were on. I turned on my emergency blinkers and immediately exited the vehicle and proceeded to wave down oncoming vehicles to alert them and hoping to get help. I feared being struck by another vehicle and or having another vehicle not being able to see mine in ample time to stop and avoid a collision with my car as they came around the bend in the road.
I did my best to alert traffic coming from both directions, all the while gravely concerned for my safety and the safety of other motorists. It was my good fortune that a Caltrans vehicle happened to be traveling on Soda Bay Road, saw my stalled vehicle, and stopped to render assistance. There were two Caltrans employees in the truck. One got out and stopped traffic while the other helped by pushing my vehicle (with me at the wheel) to the other side of the road, which had a wider shoulder area where I would not be impeding traffic and cause an accident. They notified the CHP and requested a AAA tow, having informed them that I was a AAA roadside assistance member. I didn’t have a cell phone with me and so I could not have made the call for emergency road service.
Having pulled me out of harm’s way, I was extremely grateful to them but their assistance did not stop there. These guys were such good Samaritans that one of them drove me to where my wife (who was expecting me) was working and then back to the scene of the incident with her following in her vehicle, while the other Caltrans worker waited alongside my vehicle until our return. Shortly after they left, a AAA tow truck pulled up and towed me to the nearest garage, Riviera Auto Repair on Broadmoor Way, where the owner, Mike Laier, was able to immediately diagnose the cause of my car’s sudden mechanical failure, a faulty ignition coil wire, and within an hour had my car repaired and back on the road.
I cannot help but think of what might have happened if not for Caltrans. On my way home from Lakeport later that day, as I was making the left off Highway 29 at Kit's Corner to return home on Soda Bay Road, I saw several CHP cars and vehicles that had been in an accident there and while hoping those involved in that accident were not badly hurt, was simultaneously filled with so much thanks that I had been lucky enough to have two guys from Caltrans stop earlier in the day to offer their help and clear the road for other cars.
It makes one think how life is filled with so many moments that can turn in any direction and change your life forever. My life had one such moment in that I’ll never know what turn my life could have taken if not for good luck and a couple of great guys from Caltrans who saved the day.
I wish I would have gotten the names of those Caltrans guys but I’m hoping that by contacting Charley Fielder, the Caltrans director for this area, that my thanks will get back to these guys and that they will be acknowledged and commended by Caltrans for what they did. Thanks also to Mr. Fielder for his efforts in helping to get the much-needed traffic signal at Kit's Corner, Highway 29 and 281. Given the number of accidents we have seen at that intersection, the residents of this area are very grateful to him and Caltrans for moving that project forward.
Howard Glasser
Kelseyville
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- Details
- Written by: Fred Johnson
I see that GREG BENNETT, president and general manager of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, has cancelled the upcoming Boardstock event, because he can't control his people.
There were 40 citations from the ABC for minors purchasing/consuming alcohol and the majority of those were "over 21" wristbands on minors. His employees were responsible for handing the wristbands. Perhaps if he had off-duty Sheriffs' deputies or off-duty CHP officers handing out the wristbands there wouldn't have been a problem.
That also means that he would have to pay them more than the $10 an hour or less his employees are paid. What person of sound mind would turn over a bunch of "over 21" wristbands to a new group of young minimum-wage employees and then not supervise them closely?
The Boardstock event would have lasted several days and had over 50,000 atendees. It would have brought close to FIVE MILLION DOLLARS in revenue to Lake county itself. That chance is now gone because Greg Bennett can't properly supervise his own employees. THANK YOU GREG!
He still could have hosted the event if he hired the right people to hand out the "over 21" wristbands and then monitor them with supervisors if that was the real reason he canceled the event
Does anyone still believe he wants "all the best" for Lake County, as some Supervisors do?
Fred Johnson
Clearlake
PS - How is it that Konocti only lost its liquor license for ONLY 20 DAYS, in the off season, after receiving 40 CITATIONS from the ABC for minors drinking/purchasing alcohol?
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- Details
- Written by: R. Foley
Last Tuesday, Feb. 13, I had the misfortune to observe the varsity basketball game at Clear Lake High School between the Clear Lake varsity and the Upper Lake varsity.
From the beginning of the game, Upper Lake led Clear Lake in every respect. They outplayed Clear Lake; however, as the game progressed, and the coach and players on the Clear Lake team became concerned, the blatant bias of the referees came to play in order to assist Clear Lake. Numerous fouls were called on Upper Lake and yet the same type of foul and some very over-the-top physical play by Clear Lake went unnoticed by the referees.
This is not sour grapes. Anyone attending the game, supporters for Upper Lake and Clear Lake, realized something not kosher was going on.
As the game progressed and went into the fourth quarter and then into overtime, fouls were called on Upper Lake and still - few called on Clear Lake.
Clear Lake won the game by one point. Clearly this was a tough fought game, however, Clear Lake, obviously to all who attended, was assisted by the biased refereeing. This is not to take anything away from the Clear Lake players.
My concern is that our high school athletes work very hard to compete in various athletics. Our students believe, as they should, that officials refereeing games will remain neutral. This game was so blatantly biased on the part of the officials that those attending started booing. After the game the referees quickly left the court and the building - no wonder!
Athletes should be able to go into a game expecting a win, and if that doesn't occur, then in a loss they will know they lost fairly. This was anything but a fair loss.
These two officials should hang their heads in shame and should not be allowed to officiate in this county every again.
R. Foley
Lakeport
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- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Tango Mike? That's the phonetic alphabet for the letters T and M. In military slang, that's Thanks Much.
The local volunteers who have been forwarding comfort parcels to our combat troops also forward their Thanks Much for the contributions that made and make this effort possible.
Of course, we begin with our Den Mother, Ginny Craven, whose determination and hard work are the essential spark plug.
Veterans organizations have pitched in: Chapter 951 of Vietnam Veterans of America, the United Veterans Council and American Legion Post 194.
Many veterans have pitched in, including Dean Gotham, Michael Kirch, Frank Parker, Skip Hulet, Kirk MacDonald, Ron Quick, Woody Hughes, Jess Combs, Bill Combs, RJ "Bob" Tucker and myself.
Other organizations and businesses have helped, including Mendo-Lake Urology, Christ Loves All Youth, Watershed Books, Catfish Books, Staples of Ukiah, and the Kelseyville Lions Club.
Many individuals also contibuted (and if there are veterans in here unbeknownst to me, bless you): Nancy Rhoades, Suzi Parker, Sharon Leuzinger, Wayne Myers, Tammy Myers, Joe Myers, Valerie Stewart, Sandy Hughes, Tamara Newby, John Cain, Naomi Cain, Patricia Larson, Bob Berkowitz and Albert Carter. A special mention here for Mary Ann Carter, who drove all the way to Sacramento to load up out of a 99 cent store.
The response has been so overwhelming, I may have missed someone. If so, my apologies.
George J. Dorner
Public relations chair,
Chapter 951, Vietnam Veterans of America
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