LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Public Services Department and the Eastlake Landfill will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

The Eastlake Landfill and the Public Services Office will reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Regular operating hours at the Eastlake 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 questions regarding solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1618.

NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. — Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

Caltrans will suspend most work on Northern California highways from Friday, Feb. 17, through Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday.

However, in the case of unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans crews to respond to emergency situations.
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The‌‌ ‌‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌Traffic‌‌ ‌‌Operations‌‌ ‌‌Office‌‌ ‌‌has‌‌ ‌‌reviewed‌‌ ‌‌each‌‌ ‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌determined‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌individual‌‌ ‌‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌delays‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌expected‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌less‌‌ ‌‌than‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌statewide‌‌ ‌‌policy‌‌ ‌‌maximum‌‌ ‌‌of‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌ ‌‌minutes‌‌ ‌‌unless‌‌ ‌‌‌noted‌‌ ‌‌otherwise. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

— Utility work west of Upper Lake near Scotts Valley Road will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 21. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

— Utility work in Lucerne from Fourth Street to Ogden Road will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 22. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

Highway 29

— Road work north of Spruce Grove Road will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Tree work in Gualala from north of Ocean Drive to Road 526 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

— Road work in Gualala from north of Signal Port Creek Road to south of Iversen Road will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 21. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

— Tree work will occur in Fort Bragg at Pudding Creek on Friday, Feb. 17. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge continues. Northbound lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate up to five-minute delays.

— Bridge work at the Crawford Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

— Bridge work near Henry Station Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Irvine Lodge Safety Rest Area will be closed through February 2023.

Highway 162

— Bridge work at the Outlet Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Road work south of Dos Rios near the Rodeo Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Bridge work between Peine Road and Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

— Construction in the Last Chance Grade area. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 25-minute delays.

Highway 199

— Electrical work near the Collier Tunnel Rest Area will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— Tree work between Barber Creek Road and Fisher Road will occur on Tuesday, Feb. 21. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Slipout repair near Burr Valley Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 96

— Emergency storm damage repair between Weitchpec Road and New Village Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

— Rail upgrades at various bridges between Aiken Creek and Slate Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 101

— Slipout repair from the Mendocino County Line to just north of Hartsook Inn will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Bridge work near Myers Flat will continue. Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Slide removal south of Scotia will continue. A northbound lane closure will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Emergency work from ‘B’ Street to ‘D’ Street will continue. A northbound lane closure will be in effect from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Shoulder work from Route 200 to Georgia Pacific Road will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 169

— Bridge work at Rube Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 211

— Emergency work at Fernbridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Roadway excavation between Willow Creek and Old Three Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Lake County Resource Conservation District Board of Directors.

This board is dedicated to the locally-led long term sustainable conservation and stewardship of natural resources and agriculture in Lake County.

For more information on this Board, please go to https://www.lakercd.org.

Advisory Board Applications are available at the Lake County Courthouse, Clerk of the Board Office, Room 109, 255 North Forbes St., Lakeport, or online at https://www.lakecountyca.gov/1116/Board-of-Supervisors.

Please note, membership on the above-referenced advisory board is voluntary.

The California Office of Traffic Safety, or OTS, and the California Department of Transportation have teamed up with NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain to encourage safe driving on California roadways.

The new partnership will raise awareness about the importance of slowing down, not driving under the influence, being work zone alert and staying safe on rural roads.

Chastain, an eighth-generation watermelon farmer and long-time advocate for seat belt use, will use his large social media following to share messages promoting safe driving habits and be on hand at safety initiative events asking people to “Protect Your Melon” and go safely.

Chastain is a rising star in the NASCAR Cup Series, earning two wins and finishing second in points last year in only his second full-time season.

Despite his tendency to push the limits on the track, he has been an outspoken advocate for highway safety working with campaigns in New York, Delaware, Kentucky and Georgia.

Chastain’s blue-collar background and aggressive driving style has been lauded by fans and competitors alike, including his viral “Hail Melon” wall-ride to make the Championship race last year.

“We’re excited to work with Ross Chastain and bring the message to everyone that safe driving habits save lives,” said OTS Director Barbara Rooney. “‘Protect Your Melon’ reiterates the importance of practicing safe road behaviors to help make sure all road users get to and from their destinations safely.”

“Improving safety on our roadways will take everyone doing their part, starting with each individual driver,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Don’t drive distracted or under the influence and leave the high-speed driving to NASCAR.”

“I am excited to work with the California Office of Traffic Safety and Caltrans to encourage safe driving habits across the state,” said Chastain.

“I am fortunate to get to race in California at three unique venues: short track racing at the LA Coliseum, high speeds at Auto Club Speedway and even left and right turns at Sonoma Raceway. But when I am not competing on the track, I know the importance of slowing down, along with simple and safe decisions such as wearing your seat belt and being focused on the road. Our ‘Protect Your Melon’ program encourages drivers to leave the racing to the professionals and practice safe driving habits any time they climb behind the wheel.”

Traffic fatalities continue to be a significant problem in the state accounting for nearly 10% of all deaths in the U.S. Nearly half of all fatal crashes occur on rural roads.

In 2020, the risk of dying in a crash was 62% higher on a rural road compared to an urban road for the same trip length.

Stay tuned to learn more about the “Protect Your Melon” program and highway safety events featuring Ross Chastain throughout the year.

To learn more about efforts to save lives on California roads, visit gosafelyca.org, and follow Go Safely on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @OTS_CA and @GoSafelyCA.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The Kelseyville Father-Daughter Dance committee is excited to announce this year’s dance scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18.

The 19th annual event hosts children and adults of all ages and enjoys celebrating new and old special bonds between generations.

This year's dance theme is “Masquerade Ball.”

The dance raffles off dozens of prizes all donated by local businesses. Thanks to Lake’s Limos and Tutti Frutti, one lucky guest will win a limo ride and ice cream for themselves and 8 of their friends.

The dance kicks off from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and has a second dance from 8 to 10 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for one adult and one child, opportunities to purchase tickets for additional children or adults are also available.

Tickets include a carnation flower for each child, a masquerade mask, a photo shoot with souvenir photo, along with a lavish box of sweet treats and refreshments.

Tickets to the event can be purchased at Studebakers Coffee and Deli located in Kelseyville or online through their Facebook page, Kelseyville Father-Daughter Dance or through Eventbrite.

Tickets sell out each year so be sure to purchase your tickets early.

The Father-Daughter Dance team enjoys bringing this occasion to the community and 100% of the proceeds are donated back to the community.

For questions or to donate please contact Allison Panella at 707-483-2383.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — More metallic balloons are sold for Valentine’s Day than any other holiday and, not surprisingly, it’s also around this time of year that Pacific Gas and Electric Company sees an uptick in outages caused by metallic balloons drifting into overhead power lines.

With Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, PG&E reminds its customers to make sure metallic balloons are always tied to a weight — as required by California law — and to never release them outdoors.

Last year, metallic balloons caused 415 power outages across PG&E’s service area in Northern and Central California, disrupting electric service to more than 210,000 homes and businesses.

Unlike latex helium balloons, metallic balloons can stay inflated and floating for two to three weeks — posing a hazard to power lines and equipment even days after being released outside.

“On Valentine’s Day, nothing puts a damper on a romantic evening faster than a widespread power outage. If your Feb. 14 plans include metallic balloons, please keep them tied down with a weight. If they contact our overhead lines they can disrupt electric service to an entire neighborhood, cause significant property damage and potentially result in serious injuries,” said Jeff Deal, PG&E’s Vice President of Electric Distribution Operations.

An example of what can happen when metallic balloons hit utility power lines can be seen in the video above.

In 2022, PG&E supported a new metallic balloon law that will enhance the safety of PG&E co-workers, customers and hometowns. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 847, which allows Mylar or metallic balloons to be sold in California only if those balloons do not cause electrical faults when contacting overhead distribution lines.

The new legislation bans sales of noncompliant celebratory balloons after Jan. 1, 2027. In the meantime, PG&E reminds customers to follow these important safety tips for metallic balloons:

• “Look Up and Live!” — Use caution and avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead electric lines.
• Make sure helium-filled metallic balloons are securely tied to a weight that is heavy enough to prevent them from floating away. Never remove the weight.
• When done with balloons, do not release them. Puncture them several times or cut the knot and throw them in the garbage to prevent them from floating away.
• Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon — or any foreign object — tangled in power lines or inside a substation. There can be risk of electrocution. Instead, leave it alone and call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.
• Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Stay away, keep others away and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments.