LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Special guest Tiana Williams-Claussen will talk about reintroducing California condors to their historical Northern California and Pacific Northwest range at Redbud Audubon’s Zoom program on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.

The Yurok Tribe in Northern California has been preparing over 14 years to bring condors, this nation’s largest bird, home to a historic part of its range after a century-long absence.

Not only will this restore an apex species into the region’s ecological systems, but it will promote the Yurok Tribe’s reconnection to this amazing creature that is sacred to the tribe and has great cultural importance.

Williams-Claussen, director of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, will briefly introduce the incredible Prey-go-neesh — the California condor — and describe the traditions guiding the Yurok Tribe's efforts to bring condors back to the tribal ancestral territory.

She will explain the tribe’s step-by-step progress over 14 years to develop collaborative partnerships with the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Ventana Wildlife Society, multiple zoos and local hunters.

With the necessary facilities construction nearing completion, the tribe hopes to release the first four condors this spring. In closing her talk, she will describe the Yurok Tribe’s approach for reintegrating condors once they are released.

Williams-Claussen is a Yurok tribal member from the village of Wehl-kwew and was raised in Yurok ancestral territory.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University, after which she returned to serve her tribe. She was instrumental in the formation of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department in 2008 and currently serves as department director.
Her native upbringing and formal education combine to allow her to bridge the gap between Yurok traditional understandings of the world and those rooted in Western science. She is working toward a cohesive, well-informed approach to holistic ecosystem management.

To register for this fascinating presentation, go to www.redbudaudubon.org and click on the registration link on the homepage of the website. The link to join the presentation will be sent to you the day of the program. In order to secure your spot, please register by Wednesday, Feb. 16.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — The Western Region Town Hall will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Habematolel community center, 9460 Main St. in Upper Lake.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reported that a special election to fill a seat on the Middletown Unified School District Board of Trustees has been consolidated with the Statewide Direct Primary Election and is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 7.

The first day a candidate may file for office is Monday, Feb. 14, and the last day is Friday, March 11, at 5 p.m.

Official declaration of candidacy forms for eligible candidates desiring to file may be obtained from the Lake County Registrar of Voters office in person at 325 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed County holidays and weekends.

For more information call the Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 or toll-free at 888-235-6730.

On Friday, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission announced the absence of a lawsuit challenging the new Congressional, Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization maps.

Article 21, section 3(b)(2) of the California Constitution states that any registered voter in this state may file a petition for a writ of mandate or writ of prohibition, within 45 days after the commission has certified a final map to the Secretary of State, or SOS.

Because maps were certified to the SOS on Dec. 27, 2021, the deadline to file a lawsuit was Feb. 10, 2022, at midnight.

“We're glad to cross this first legal threshold to effectuate the people’s maps,” said Commission Chair Russell Yee. “The absence of a state lawsuit challenging these maps is a testament to the effectiveness of California's open, publicly accessible redistricting process and the design of its independent redistricting commission. We worked hard to apply the constitutional redistricting criteria and consider testimony from throughout the state, especially from minority communities. While the maps do not please everyone, we believe they are fair and equitable. We would have confidently defended these maps in court but are thankful we now won't need to.”

The possibility of other legal challenges remains. Article 21, section 2(i) of the state Constitution states that the map enactment date — Dec. 27 — triggers the 90-day period for a referendum petition to be filed. In the absence of a sufficient and timely referendum petition being filed, the maps would otherwise become “effective” 90 days after enactment/certification, or March 27.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated a congressional map in Alabama that a lower court ruled hurt Black voters.

The state Constitution's legal challenge deadline does not apply to any challenge that might be filed in federal court alleging a violation of the U.S. Constitution or the federal Voting Rights Act.

Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its electoral districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts.

In 2008, California voters passed the Voters First Act, authorizing the creation of the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw new State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization district lines. In 2010, the Voters First Act for Congress gave the Commission the responsibility of drawing new Congressional districts following every census.

For more information, please visit www.WeDrawTheLinesCA.org.

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.
‌‌‌ ‌
Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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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

— Road work west of Upper Lake near Saratoga Springs Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway‌‌ ‌‌29

— Utility work near Middletown south of Grange Road is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Tree work near Leggett is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Emergency work continues south of Willits at the Jct 20/101 Bridge. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Northbound Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C101KC

— Moss Cove Safety Rest Area will be closed through March 2022.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through March 2022.

— Tree work continues south of Confusion Hill. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 175

— Utility work in Hopland is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 271

— Utility work will occur near Big Dann Creek on Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Bridge work north of Klamath near Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Emergency work and construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays at all hours.

— Shoulder work near Ocean World in Crescent City will continue. Lane closures will be in place from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Utility work north of Crescent City at the Dr. Fine Bridge is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute.

Highway 197

— Utility work near the 101 junction is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic will be in effect. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 199

— Permit work near the Collier Tunnel is scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work moving from the 101 junction to west of Dinsmore on Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays total.

Highway 96

— Emergency work near Willow Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Motorists should expect 20-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. A northbound onramp closure will also be in effect. Motorists should use an alternate route.

Highway 255

— Utility work near Manila will continue. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Emergency repairs east of Blue Lake to Willow Creek to continue. One-way traffic control in effect 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 15-minute delays.

This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Rep. Dave Joyce (OH-14) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing National Burn Awareness Week which runs from Feb. 6 to 12, 2022.

This resolution asks local governments, health care organizations, first responders and people across the nation to commemorate National Burn Awareness Week to raise awareness about the seriousness of burn injuries and honor survivors, patients, and those who care for them.

“Every year, more than 400,000 people receive treatment for burn injuries. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution with Representative Joyce to raise awareness about the dangers of burn injuries and work to support the victims, survivors, and those who care for them,” said Congressman Thompson. “This week, we are spreading awareness about ways to prevent burn injuries and sending our gratitude to the first responders and health care professionals who respond to and care for those who suffer from burns.”

“Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in the United States,” said Congressman Joyce. “What’s worse is that nearly a third of all burn injuries afflict children under the age of 15. I’m proud to once again introduce this bipartisan resolution alongside Congressman Thompson to help promote burn injury awareness, prevent these terrible accidents that threaten thousands of lives every year, and recognize the first-responders who are dedicated to saving and caring for the victims of burn injuries.”

“So many of the burn injuries that we see every day are preventable. Each survivor that we help is a person, with a family and a life ahead of them. Raising awareness about the common sense steps that the public can take to protect themselves and their loved ones is essential. We are appreciative of Representatives Thompson and Joyce introducing this resolution, continuing to lead the way in Congress on burn injury prevention,” said Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD, FACS, President of the American Burn Association.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.