SACRAMENTO – On Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the signing of two bills that will give law enforcement officials additional resources to more effectively monitor and prosecute registered sex offenders and sexually violent predators.

“We must do everything in our power to provide law enforcement with the resources necessary to protect the public,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “Public safety is a top priority and with these bills, we will be able to better monitor and prosecute sex offenders and sexually violent predators to the fullest extent of the law – making our streets safer from these dangerous predators.”

The following bills have been signed into law by the governor:

– SB 583 by Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) requires the Department of Justice to record the type of residence at which registered sex offenders reside and to provide the information to state agencies for investigative and law enforcement purposes. This will allow law enforcement officials, licensing authorities and child care officials to cross check the residencies of sex offenders.

– SB 669 by Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) provides that a sexually violent predator’s refusal to participate in treatment may be considered evidence in a jury trial to show that his or her condition has not changed.

HOPLAND – Mendocino College Foundation presents "Gala on the Green," a fundraiser for Mendocino College students and programs, Saturday, Sept. 12.

The event, which begins at 5 p.m., will be held at Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks, 12901 Old River Road, Hopland.

Tickets available by calling 707-467-1018.

The cost is $75 per person or $600 for reserved table for eight.

Dinner will be catered by Kilkenny Kitchen of Ukiah. There will be local wines, live and silent auctions, and music provided by the Mendocino College Jazz Combo.

The event is sponsored by Mendocino College Foundation and Mendo Lake Credit Union.

MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Area Town Hall – or MATH – will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

The meeting, which will be held at Loconoma High School located on Washington Street in Middletown, is open to the public.

Under unfinished business, the group will consider approval of MATH promotional materials, road and sidewalk committee priorities, and Middletown Street Light Project.

New business will include discussion and consideration of a committee to create a youth center, a discussion on what redevelopment is, and discussion and consideration of parking at the post office.

MATH is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (includes HVL), Long Valley and Middletown.

MATH meetings are subject to videotaping. Meeting proceedings may be available for viewing on public access television and/or the Internet.

ST. HELENA – On Monday, Aug. 10, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Sonoma Lake Napa Unit will conduct live fire training exercises on the Warm Springs Dam at Lake Sonoma in Northern Sonoma County.

Along with Cal Fire, Healdsburg Fire Department, Geyserville Fire Protection District and the Cloverdale Fire Protection District will also be participating.

A previous training scheduled for this past week was canceled.

This training will provide realistic wildland fire conditions to train firefighters in different tactical operations.

In addition to the training, the area being used for the training burn is on the downstream face of Warm Springs dam.

By burning the 80 acres of grass off the dam, it allows the Army Corps of Engineers to do their annual inspection of the dam face.

The training will begin at 6 p.m. and will continue to approximately 9 p.m.

There will be eight fire engines and a bulldozer participating along with approximately 35 firefighters.

SACRAMENTO – On Thursday Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 254, legislation by State Senator Patricia Wiggins (D – Santa Rosa) revising horse racing law relative to the sale of equines.

The Wiggins measure requires each purchase, sale or transfer to be accompanied by a written bill of sale signed by the buyer and seller.

It also prohibits any person from acting as a dual agent without the knowledge and written consent of the buyer and seller.

SB 254 further restricts an agent's compensation to no more than $500 per transaction unless the amount of compensation is disclosed in writing and the buyer and seller provide written consent.

According to Wiggins, “current law lacks clarity and has resulted in opportunities for unscrupulous individuals to defraud people in the sale of horses.”

A person is prohibited under existing law from receiving any form of compensation in connection with the sale or purchase of a racehorse, prospective racehorse, stallion, or broodmare, unless the purchaser and seller have agreed in writing to the payment of that compensation.

“This bill makes it clear that any sale, purchase, or transfer of an equine is to be accompanied by a written bill of sale or acknowledgment of purchase, and a security agreement setting forth the purchase price, and signed by both the purchaser and seller or their duly authorized agents,” Wiggins said. “SB 254 makes it unlawful for any person to act as a dual agent unless certain conditions are met, and prohibits a person acting as an agent to receive in excess of $500 in compensation or in other items of value, related to that transaction, other than from the agent's principal, unless certain conditions are met.”

SB 254 would allow any person injured by a violation of its provisions to recover treble damages, plus other expenses. The bill also provides that the California Horse Racing Board may suspend or revoke the license of any person who violates its provisions.

Stonestreet, the sponsor of the bill, writes, that the “unfortunate reality of the equine world is that traditionally acceptable industry practices have resulted in an environment which provides an opportunity for unscrupulous individuals to defraud others and when such fraud has been both difficult to detect and correct. The intent of the statute is leveled at both correcting the business culture by mandating written agreements and deterring inappropriate behavior by providing enhanced damages. The revision (called for by SB 254) does not change the intent of existing law; it simply clarifies the language and improves the efficiency of the statute."

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– A project to add turnouts from the Blue Lake Motel to Xatholic Church Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Team Ghilotti of Petaluma.

– A highway widening project from Government Street to Rancheria Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate

20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Wardlaw Street to the Lupiyoma Creek Bridge beginning Monday, August 10. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Road 4 on Friday, Aug. 7. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Bridge deck repairs at Alder Creek Bridge, Elk Creek Bridge, and Russian Gulch Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect at one bridge at a time. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Bridge deck repairs at Casper Creek Bridge and Hare Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect at one bridge at a time. Motorists

should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton., YC

Highway 20

– Construction of a retaining wall 0.4 mile east of Three Chop Road will begin Thursday, Aug. 13. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and

may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Anthony Faga of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a road approach between 0.7 mile west of Old Lake County Road and Old Lake County Road. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 101

– Storm damage repair from 0.5 mile north of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line 1.6 miles south of East Side Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Hopland Overhead will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

– A pavement repair project from the West Road Overcrossing to Moore Avenue will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, from midnight Sunday to 3 p.m.

Friday. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Professional Concrete Services of Pleasant Hill.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration and a slipout from 1.1 miles north of Reeves Canyon Road to Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of

travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from California Street to State Street beginning Monday, Aug. 10. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each

direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Repair of a slipout near Ryan Creek Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic

slowdowns. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services Inc. of Willits.

– A pavement repair project from Big Trails Drive to the Long Valley Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Windsor Fuel Co. of Pittsburg.

– Storm damage repair near the Arnold Overhead bridge will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services Inc. of Willits.

– A culvert replacement project from the junction of Route 101/162 and the Long Valley Creek Bridge will begin Sunday evening, Aug. 9. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 11 a.m., Sunday evening to Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Robert J. Frank Construction Inc. of Redding.

Highway 128

– Bridge deck repairs at the North Fork Navarro River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute

delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction, Incorporated, of Stockton.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs at Mountain View Road through Friday, Aug. 7. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Tom Berger of Yorkville has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a road approach near Beebe Creek Bridge. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Repair of a slipout near the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute

delays. Contractor – Fedco Construction of Santa Rosa.

Highway 162

– A highway reconstruction and realignment project 1.6 miles east of Rodeo Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 253

– A culvert replacement project from 2.2 to 0.3 miles west of Butler Ranch will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Coast Construction Inc. of San Rafael.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).