Author Joan M. Jacobs and Konocti Lioness Club President Anna Jones on Thursday, December 15, 2011. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Lioness Club hosted author Joan M. Jacobs as the club's guest speaker at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Jacobs is author of “The Story of KC and the Keep Well Kids Club.”

The permit application was filed in person by a rotund, jolly man with a red suit and a white beard. The signature on the paperwork reads “K. Kringle,” according to a Thursday press statement from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Brand inspections and health requirements help veterinarians prevent the spread of animal disease.

The law also mandates that all animals entering California be individually identified. The nine reindeer named on the permit are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder (or Donner), Blitzen and Rudolph.

The permit was granted under two conditions: the nine reindeer may not co-mingle with other reindeer in the state of California, and the visiting reindeer may not be used for breeding purposes while in the state.

“It is our pleasure to issue the permit to Mr. Kringle and do our part to ensure another successful trip,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We wish him safe travels, clear skies and plenty of milk and cookies as he and his reindeer make deliveries to the good children of California.”

The public is encouraged to bring questions and/or comments to the first meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at the Lake Village Estates Clubhouse, 400 Sulphur Bank Road, Clearlake Oaks.

An additional meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012.

If you are unable to attend you can still send questions and/or comments to the district at P.O. Box 709, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423; via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; fax, 707-998-1245; or in person, 12952 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks.

In observance of the Christmas holiday, Caltrans crews and contractors will not be performing any activity on state highways that would include lane closures from Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 26.

However, Caltrans will respond to emergency situations with traffic control as required.

There is no major roadwork scheduled for Lake County from Friday, Dec. 23, through Thursday, Dec. 29.

In Mendocino County, Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Confusion Hill to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line along Highways 101 and 271 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel.

Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns on Highway 101, and should anticipate 10-minute delays on Highway 271.

Work on these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

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).

Caltrans wishes the community a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.

The Mills home, 1190 N. Brush St. in Lakeport, Calif., won the city's residential holiday light contest. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The winners of the city of Lakeport's annual lighted holiday decorating contest were announced on Tuesday night at the Lakeport City Council meeting.

This year’s winners include the Rocky Point Care Center, 625 16th St., which took first place in the business category for an elegant display running across its entire facade.

Second place for businesses went to Main Street Bicycles at 125 N. Main for its homey window scene with fireplace and Christmas tree.

The beautiful winter wonderland at the Mills home, 1190 N. Brush St., took first place in the residential category.

The Bussard home at 842 Central Park Ave., which for several years has been listed amongst the contest's top finishers, took second place for its multifaceted light show timed to holiday music.

First place winners were awarded $300 each and second place winners received $100 each.

The contest is sponsored by the city of Lakeport, the Lakeport Main Street Association and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

The Bussard home at 842 Central Park Ave. in Lakeport, Calif., took second place in the residential holiday light contest. Courtesy photo.

Main Street Bicycles at 125 N. Main in Lakeport, Calif., took second place in the business category in the city's annual holiday light contest. Courtesy photo.

The Delta Plan’s fundamental purpose is to meet the state-mandated coequal goals of “providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring and enhancing the Delta ecosystem … in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place.”

The draft EIR analyzes the environmental impacts of the draft Delta Plan, which includes 12 regulatory policies and 61 recommendations designed to guide state and local agencies regarding land, water, air and other systems in the Delta.

The EIR also examines five alternative plans, including: a no project alternative, two alternatives with increased emphasis on water supply reliability, one alternative with increased emphasis on Delta ecosystem restoration and one alternative with increased emphasis on protection and enhancement of Delta communities and culture.

Comments on the draft EIR are currently being accepted electronically, by mail and at field hearings scheduled throughout California.

The deadline for submitting written comments on the draft EIR is February 2, 2012.

All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the official administrative record and may be made available to the public.

Once the comment period closes, the council will review and analyze comments, and use information in the draft EIR to develop a final EIR and Delta Plan.

Written responses to draft EIR comments will be issued in the final EIR, which will be available at www.deltacouncil.ca.gov.

Final EIR certification and Delta Plan adoption is currently anticipated for spring 2012.

Additional information, including previous drafts of the Delta Plan, public comments received to date and background about the Delta Stewardship Council and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, can be found at www.deltacouncil.ca.gov.

Comments on the draft EIR by any of the following:

• Electronically via the council’s Web site at www.deltacouncil.ca.gov or e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• By mail sent to “EIR Comments,” Delta Stewardship Council, 980 Ninth St., Suite 1500, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Comments also may be submitted at a number of field hearings. The Northern California field hearing will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Willows City Council Chambers, 201 N. Lassen St., Willows.