How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sierra Club Lake Group Executive Committee member Denise Rushing will share “permaculture” principles and practices that can keep us energized, sane and powerfully focused in these difficult political times on Wednesday, March 22.
The presentation will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Round Room at the Mendocino College Lake Center, 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.
Discover ecosystem strategies developed over millennia by life on Planet Earth and how to apply these strategies to not only survive, but also to thrive in a hostile ecosystem, while transforming the system itself.
As always, the meeting is free and open to the public.
For more information contact Ed Robey at 707-994-8304 or
News
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
– Emergency highway repairs at various locations from Bachelor Creek Bridge to Bruner Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Curb and sidewalk repairs from Sayre Avenue to Country Club Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Emergency highway repairs from Foothill Drive to Bruner Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
Highway 29
– Emergency culvert repairs from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Emergency highway repairs from Grouss Springs Road to Emerford Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Emergency highway repairs from east of Arroyo Vista Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Ocean View Drive beginning Tuesday, March 21. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Leggett will continue. A full road closure is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should seek an alternate route.
Highway 101
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency slide repairs on the westbound Route 20 to southbound Route 101 connector ramp will continue. Intermittent ramp closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency slide removal near the Dora Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Piercy will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 162
– Emergency storm damage repairs from the junction of Routes 101/162 to 1.8 miles west of Pookiny will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Emergency storm damage repairs near The Middle Way will continue. One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from the Russian River Bridge to the Lake/Mendocino County line beginning Monday, March 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
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 above.
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).
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport Women’s Civic Club is offering two $1,000 vocational school scholarships to graduating high school students and second-year students from Mendocino and Yuba colleges.
“Vocational” typically implies a two-year course of study at a junior college or specialty school of some type.
Certification programs offered by junior colleges or specialty schools would be classified as “vocational” no matter the length of study.
All Lake County high schools have applications on hand. They may be obtained from the school counselors.
Mendocino and Yuba colleges also have applications and second-year students are encouraged to apply. Previous applicants and former graduates also are welcome to reapply.
The deadline for all applications is April 17.
Applicants must be Lake County residents; be currently enrolled as a full-time student (carrying 12 units or more); have a 2.75 grade point average in all course work attempted; list all work and community involvement; state reasons for applying for this scholarship and why this particular field; and submit two letters of recommendation, one preferably from an employer.
The Lakeport Women’s Civic Club strongly supports those student seeking vocational careers.
Every community relies heavily upon hygienists, lab techs, hair dressers, electricians, plumbers and mechanics. Just think how happy you are to see the dishwasher repairman.
The Lakeport Women’s Civic Club takes great pride in helping to encourage young people in developing these vocational skills.
For more information call Kay Hancock at 707-274-1094.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Unified School District Board will hold a special meeting on the evening of Thursday, March 16, to discuss the superintendent selection process.
The meeting will take place beginning at 7 p.m. in the meeting room at the Lakeport Unified District Office, 2508 Howard Ave.
The board will discuss a draft search timeline and consider an agreement with Mahoney Consulting for facilitating the process.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Historical Society general meeting is Sunday, March 19, at 1:30 p.m. at the Courthouse Museum, 255 N Main St in Lakeport.
Bill Lane, a fourth-generation Northern Californian, will speak about his involvement with the Friends of the Lake County Museum, the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum group projects and the importance of volunteering in the community.
This general meeting is free and all are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.
The museum is open noon to 4 p.m. if you would like to come early or stay after the LCHS presentation, please feel free to tour this wonderful facility that highlights the history of our county
The LCHS operates the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum at 9921 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.
Three times a year the LCHS publishes the Konocti Chronicle, a magazine devoted to any and all aspects of Lake County history.
The society’s extensive collection of historical photographs can be viewed on the LCHS Web site www.lakecountyhistory.org .
For more information about the meeting or the Lake County Historical Society contact Bonnie Skee at 707-262-1432 or Jackie Ridgel at 707-279-4062.
- Lake County News reports
CHP to host free Start Smart traffic safety class March 25
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for soon to-be-licensed, newly licensed, and teenage drivers and their parents or guardians on Saturday, March 25.
The class will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Clear Lake Area CHP office, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.
The CHP said a teenager is killed in a traffic collision every four hours nationwide. That equates to more than 1,870 teenagers killed each year. Another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions.
These deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk driving behaviors through education, and the CHP said its “Start Smart” program can help prevent these tragedies.
The Start Smart program focuses on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teenagers and their parents.
Start Smart employs innovative techniques to capture the attention of teenagers and parents, providing a lasting experience.
The curriculum includes information on collision statistics, teen driver and passenger behaviors, graduated driver’s license laws, cultural changes in today’s society and the need for stronger parental involvement in a teenager’s driving experience.
Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office, 707-279-0103.
- Lake County Community Development Department
Lauren Fuller: Minor use permit for commercial kennel
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
AND NOTICE OF PROPOSED MINOR USE PERMIT
BY THE LAKE COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Lake County Zoning Administrator of the County of Lake, State of California, will consider approving Minor Use Permit 16-38 with no public hearing if no written request for a public hearing is submitted by 5:00 P.M., March 22, 2017 to the Community Development Department, Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, California.
Should a timely request for hearing be filed, a public hearing will be held on March 29, 2017, at 2 p.m. in Conference Room C, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse.
Minor Use Permit 16-38. Location: 21125 Loconomi Road, Middletown, APN 014-140-30. Applicant: Lauren Fuller. Project: In accordance with Lake County Code to allow the operation of a 5-space commercial canine kennel.
Project planner: Mireya Turner, (707) 263-2221 or
Copies of the application, environmental documents, all reference documents, and staff reports associated with each project are available for review through the Community Development Department, Planning Division; Telephone 707-263-2221.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director
By: ____________________________________
Michalyn DelValle, Principal Planner
AAA wants St. Patrick’s Day partygoers to celebrate and enjoy the day safely.
To assist, AAA Northern California will offer its Tipsy Tow service free of charge to anybody who feels they’re too impaired to drive.
You do not need to be a AAA Member to take advantage of this free service to the community.
“AAA wants everybody to have fun on St. Patrick’s Day, but don’t press your luck if you feel impaired, call AAA and we’ll make sure you get home safely,” said John Moreno, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “AAA’s Tipsy Tow is free to anyone in need. You can’t beat the price.”
AAA’s Tipsy Tow service will start at 6 p.m. Friday, March 17, and will run through 6 a.m. Saturday, March 18.
Drivers, passengers, party hosts, bartenders and/or restaurant managers should:
– Call 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357) between 6 p.m. March 17 and 6 a.m. March 18.
– State that they need a “Tipsy Tow.”
– Provide the driver’s name, home address, phone number and vehicle/driver location.
The service will provide a one-way ride for drivers and their vehicle to the driver’s home. If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver’s home as long as they can be transported safely in the tow truck. Tipsy Tow does not take reservations.
According to California Highway Patrol crash data, during last year’s St. Patrick’s Day, three people were killed and nearly 60 others were injured on California’s roadways due to alcohol related collisions. That same day, CHP made 145 arrests statewide for driving under the influence.
AAA estimates that a first-time misdemeanor DUI conviction in California can cost approximately $15,649 or more in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs.
DUI-related costs have risen sharply in recent years largely due to steep increases in fines and insurance for DUI drivers. The estimated cost of a first-offense misdemeanor DUI for those under age 21 is $21,500.
There is no price tag on a crash that causes an injury or death.
- Editor
Kevin Dameron
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Kevin Lee Dameron died peacefully on March 13, 2017, in Lakeport at the age of 58.
Kevin is survived by his sister, Jackie Courtney (Glenn Courtney) of Lakeport, who raised him from the time he was 15 years old; sisters, Susan Shryock (Steve Shryock) of Pocatello, Idaho, and Sharon Dickens (Kenny Dickens) of Yucca Valley; and brother, James Smith of Long Beach.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Geraldine Jepson (George Jepson); father, John Dameron; and sister, Gerilyn Breeze.
Kevin was born on Oct. 6, 1958, in Huntington Park, Los Angeles. He moved to Lake County in 1979 and started working with People Services. It was there that he met his first girlfriend, Millie Hill.
Kevin enjoyed music, dancing, football and racing.
A memorial service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport on Friday, March 17, at 2:30 p.m.
For more information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
- Editor
California Association of Orthodontists responds to national report on DIY teeth straightening
In a report released Feb. 23, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, revealed that nearly 13 percent of its member orthodontists are seeing patients who have tried do-it-yourself teeth straightening.
The reported ages of people attempting to straighten their own teeth ranges from 8 to over 60 years old.
The AAO survey conducted among its members indicates some of these DIY teeth straightening attempts have caused severe damage including tooth loss and leading to costly repairs.
“The cost of dealing with replacing a lost tooth can easily exceed $20,000 over a lifetime,” said DeWayne B. McCamish, DDS, MS, AAO president.
The AAO reports the most common materials used to attempt do-it-yourself teeth straightening include rubber bands, dental floss, fishing line and paper clips – as well as DIY method such as biting on pencils, creating fake retainers and using rubber band to push teeth together.
“Attempting any self-directed, DIY teeth straightening puts your teeth, gums and overall dental health at risk. Patients may think they are saving time and money by trying to straighten their teeth at home, but the damage caused by unsupervised treatment may ultimately cost the patient more than if they saw an orthodontic specialist from the very beginning,” said Dr. Andrew Harner, California Association of Orthodontists president.
The AAO attributes the trend of DIY teeth straightening to social media video content, such as YouTube video tutorials. “I’ve seen horrific results of patients that have tried mimicking online methods in an attempt to straighten their own teeth. It’s a worrying trend,” said Harner.
Harner added, “Children should visit an orthodontist for the first time at age 7, who will then determine whether they need orthodontic treatment and will map out a safe and effective treatment plan. Seeing an orthodontic specialist for treatment is the only way orthodontic treatment should be undertaken and under no circumstances should anyone attempt DIY, at-home or self-directed orthodontics.”
U.S. Air Force Airman Noah T. Williams graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Williams is the son of Jessica H. Killops of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.
He is a 2016 graduate of Middletown High School, Middletown, Calif.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – After being closed for more than a month, Clear Lake State Park is reopening to day use and boating on Wednesday, but the recent flooding has necessitated repairs to campgrounds that could take months, with some facilities not expected to open until next spring.
On Feb. 9 the park was closed due to flooding of main park roads, campgrounds, cabins, boat launch, day use and restroom facilities, as Lake County News has reported.
With the waters now receding, Park Superintendent Bill Salata said the park will reopen for day use starting on Wednesday, with day use hours from sunrise to sunset.
However, Salata said campgrounds and cabins remain closed due to flooding and storm damage.
Clear Lake’s level continues to steadily recede. Early Wednesday, it was just under 8.4 feet Rumsey. Flood stage is 9 feet Rumsey.
Salata said the reopening of the campgrounds is still undetermined. That’s because park staffers haven’t been able to fully evaluate the erosion and facilities damage from the flooding due to some areas still being underwater.
He said the Cole Creek campground, which still has some standing water, along with Upper Bayview campground and Lower Bayview Campground are closed until June 1, due to needing to do repair work that requires digging up the roadway. Once the main park road is evaluated, those campgrounds can be reopened.
Kelsey Creek campground, which is still partially underwater, is expected to be closed until March 2018, he said, noting closures may be extended if additional damage is identified.
“We still have picnic tables floating, and we have about 50 trees down,” he said.
Those picnic tables, which range in weight from 500 to 800 pounds, are at the water’s edge in the Kelsey Slough. Salata said it is expected to take until the end of the summer to retrieve all of those picnic tables.
There also are crushed tables and lifted blacktop, and the need to assess the condition of the park’s sewer and fresh water system. He said that will require digging up parts of the roadway in order to access fresh water lateral lines.
There are concerns that driving through the park could further damage roads and infrastructure, he said.
Salata put the damage estimate to the park’s facilities in excess of $100,000. “I imagine that number is going to double.”
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He said park staff is now cutting down trees, trying to clean the roads and cleaning facilities for day use, which is a priority.
“The amount of work right now is overwhelming,” he said.
In order to complete repairs, Salata said State Parks has an interagency agreement with the California Conservation Corp which starts at the end of the month, and they’re working on an amendment with Cal Fire for use of its inmate crews to begin this month.
Salata, who has been at Clear Lake State Park for the last eight years, hasn’t seen this kind of damage previously during his tenure.
However, he said the facility was seriously damaged in the 1998 flood, when Clear Lake’s elevation topped 11.4 feet on the Rumsey gauge, nearly a food higher than its peak level in February. At that time, the park didn’t have gates to close and some of the other infrastructure it now has.
He said he’s added gates to keep the public safe and to allow for making closure when necessary.
Salata said Clear Lake State Park has about 200,000 visitors a year between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the “shoulder season” last spring, they had 300 to 500 people people a day using the park thanks to the crappie fishing.
“Our numbers are higher than they have ever been in history, up until this winter,” Salata said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LCNews
Award winning journalism on the shores of Clear Lake.
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