MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Forest Supervisor Wade McMaster announced Roy Jones will step in as the acting Grindstone District Ranger, following the departure of Loren Everest, who recently transferred to the Plumas National Forest on the Feather River Ranger District.

Jones will be on board for 120 days.

“I want to thank Loren for all he has done for the Grindstone and Mendocino, and I wish him well on his new adventure on the Plumas,” said Forest Supervisor McMaster. “I also want to thank Roy for stepping up while we move forward with the hiring process for the permanent position.”

In 2001 Jones began his career with the Forest Service on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest working on a type-3 fire engine.

After completing the fire apprenticeship program, Jones joined the Mendocino National Forest as a permanent assistant fire engine operator in 2004, and was later promoted to fire engine operator and engine captain positions.

Jones has served in his current role as Safety Program manager for the Mendocino National Forest since 2018.

In 2022 he completed a 120-detail as a deputy district ranger on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Trinity River Management Unit and South Fork Management Unit.

“I look forward to serving and supporting the Grindstone in the district ranger position,” said Jones.

In his spare time, Jones enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Spectacular California wildflower photography will be the topic at the Jan. 18 Zoom meeting of the Redbud Audubon Society at 7 p.m.

Internationally acclaimed conservation photographers Rob Badger and Nita Winter will share scenes of their 27-year journey photographing wildflowers and super-bloom landscapes throughout California and the West.

This decades-long journey led to the creation of their award-winning coffee-table book, “Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change," co-published with the California Native Plant Society.

The book, which has won 12 awards, is a celebration of California’s amazing plant diversity.

The book’s stories about the wildflowers are to inspire hope and action on climate change, and the book serves as a companion to their traveling educational exhibit.

Rob Badger and Nita Winter have been life partners and creative collaborators for more than three decades.

Their work has been featured in Time, Mother Jones, and Sierra magazines, the New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times.

They are the recent recipients of the Sierra Club’s 2020 Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography.

The photographs in their book are not intended to show the effects of climate change on wildflowers.

Rather, Rob and Nita share what scientists, including some of the authors who contributed to their book, are learning about how climate change is affecting wildflowers and what we can do to protect them.

To register for the program, click on the registration link on the homepage of Redbud Audubon’s website. The Zoom link for the program will be sent on the day of the presentation.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Eastlake Landfill and the Public Services Office will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Eastlake Landfill and the Public Services office will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Regular operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The Public Services Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any solid waste topics in Lake County, please call 707-262-1618.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — The Mendocino National Forest is recruiting for firefighters.

The Mendocino National Forest is recruiting for its 2024 wildland fire on-call program.

Anyone 18 or older can sign up and get paid to be trained as a firefighter.

Attend one of their in-person hiring days, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 16 to 17, in Upper Lake at 10025 Elk Mountain Road.

After training and passing the "pack test," you'll be rostered for the summer season.

Register online https://bit.ly/oc24 or send them a message on Facebook @MendocinoNF.

Deadline to register is Feb. 1.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — In a heartwarming tradition that embodies the true spirit of community and compassion, Kelseyville Girl Scout Troop No. 10145 took the lead in organizing and hosting the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at Kelseyville Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 9 a.m.

For the eighth consecutive year, the troop, known for its dedication to service, collaborated with local businesses, friends, family, 4-H groups and fellow scouting organizations to continue the mission of remembering, honoring and teaching.

This year's event held a special significance as the troop not only hosted the ceremony but also organized it, showcasing their growing commitment to the cause.

The ceremony, filled with heartfelt moments, saw children from the troop taking center stage as they delivered poignant speeches and served as emcees.

“The mission here is to ‘Remember, Honor and Teach.’ What better way to learn than to do, and that's just what our kids are doing," said event coordinator Allison Panella.

The youth speakers for the ceremony included Mariana Rivas, Audrey Panella, Quinn Siefert, Chandler Johnson and Emily Anderson, representing not just the troop but also the broader community, with participants from Big Valley 4-H joining hands with Kelseyville Girl Scout Troop No. 10145 and No. 10490.

What sets the Kelseyville event apart is the active participation of children in every aspect, from organizing to leading the ceremony.

Following the moving tribute, all 13 troop members from Girl Scout Troop 10145 embarked on an inspiring act of kindness by shopping for every child currently residing at the Kelseyville Shelter.

“Today was a day of service and reflection for our troop. I am so impressed with the compassion and leadership every one of our girls poses; they are truly inspiring,” said Troop Leader Miasha Rivas.

The troop's goal for the year is to place wreaths on all 515 veteran graves at Kelseyville Cemetery, and they are inviting the community to join hands and hearts in this mission.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, and community members are encouraged to participate in the wreath-laying activity following the ceremony.

To be a part of this heartwarming tradition, sponsor a wreath, or contribute to the troop's mission, please visit Wreaths Across America - Kelseyville Cemetery or contact Allison Panella.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Office of Emergency Services in coordination with local agencies to host ag pass and incident safety course for commercial agricultural lands or livestock producers and permitted commercial cannabis producers.

This informational course is optional but highly encouraged to understand how to obtain an Ag Pass to tend to properties during a wildfire evacuation.

The ag pass program is for any commercial agricultural lands or livestock producer (including cannabis) who may want to tend to their property during a wildfire evacuation.

The course will include an overview of the program, how to obtain and utilize the pass and an introduction to wildfire incidents as related to ag pass holders.

To encourage participation, courses are planned around the county. Attendees need only attend one of the following:

• Saturday, Feb. 10: Scotts Valley Women’s Club, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport; 1 to 5 p.m., ag and livestock; 6 to 10 p.m., cannabis.

• Monday, Feb. 12: Lake County Fire Protection District, 14815 Olympic Drive, Clearlake; 8 a.m. to noon, ag and livestock; 1 to 5 p.m., cannabis.

• Thursday, Feb. 15: South Lake County Fire Protection District, 21095 State Highway 175, Middletown; 8 a.m. to noon, cannabis; 1 to 5 p.m., ag and livestock.

To register and for more information visit https://lakesheriff.com/1358/Outreach or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..