Entries must be received by noon on Monday, June 29.

Entry forms may be downloaded at www.lakeportchamber.com or call the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 707-263-5092. Entries may be faxed to 707-263-5104.

Effective immediately and until further notice, Merritt Road at Hill Creek – approximately 1,500 feet west of Renfro Drive – will be closed to all traffic, the department reported.

Access to Merritt Road west of the closure will be via Highland Springs Road.

Signs and barricades are in place to alert the traveling public and emergency services of the need to use alternate routes.

The Department of Public Works thanks you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Please drive with caution in this area.

For more information call the Department of Public Works, 707-263-2341.

And with that, live worms of all sizes will race to be become sole champion of the 42nd annual Worm Races during the Independence Day Festivities at Austin Park in Clearlake, to be held Saturday, July 4, following the parade.

Why a worm race? Clear Lake is known as being the “Bass Capital of the West” so worms go pole and hook with bass. Plus it is just plain fun for kids and kids at heart.

Last year more than 300 racers participated in the worm races. This year event organizers are expecting a larger turnout.

Bring your own worm if you wish or rent one from the famed stables of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s winners in the four age categories – 0 to 5 yrs.; 6 to 10 yrs.; 11 to 17 yrs., 18 yrs. and over – will vie for cash prizes and trophies.

Fun facts about worms: worms do not have eyes but are sensitive to light; more than an hour's worth of exposure to direct light will paralyze a worm; worms have five hearts; worms breathe through their skin; worms can regenerate their tails but cannot grow new heads; the longest earthworm ever recorded was found in South Africa and measured 22 feet long.

For more information about the worm races call the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, 707-994-3600.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Le Trianon Resort to 0.3 mile east of Catholic Church Road, which began Friday, June 26. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– A highway widening project from Government Street to Rancheria Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate

20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance at Third Avenue on Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Island Drive. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate

10-minute delays.

– A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– Bridge deck repairs at Kelseyville Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Tuesday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should

anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

Highway 175

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from the junction of Route 29/175 near Kelseyville to Kelsey Creek. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect.

Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A pavement sealing project from Red Hill Road to Kelsey Creek will begin Monday, June 29. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Northwest Paving of Redding.

– Mendocino Vipassana Foundation of Cobb has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for paving a driveway at Sunrise Vista Resort beginning Friday, June 19. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Malan and Karen Sjolund of Manchester have been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a road approach near Creamery Lane. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Helen O’Neal of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a driveway near Simpson Lane. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– The city of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for sidewalk and sewer upgrades from Walnut Street to Pine Avenue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 20

– A highway widening project from Trailer Cove Road to 0.1 mile east of Gravel Pitt Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– A paving project from 0.8 mile to 1.1 mile east of Three Chop Road will begin Monday, June 29. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – MCS Construction Inc. of Willits.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Redwood Valley Undercrossing will begin Sunday, June 28. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect.

Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

Highway 101

– Storm damage repair from 0.6 mile to .8 mile north of Comminsky Station Road will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may

experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Hopland Overhead Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. Of Stockton.

– A pavement repair project from the West Road Overcrossing to Moore Avenue will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, from midnight Sunday to 3 p.m. Friday. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Professional Concrete Services of Pleasant Hill.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration and a slipout from 1.1 miles north of Reeves Canyon Road to 0.5 mile south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane

in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– A pavement repair project from Big Trails Drive to the Long Valley Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Windsor Fuel Company of Pittsburg.

– Black Oak Ranch of Laytonville has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow access for the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival to be held 4.5 miles north of Laytonville at Black Oak

Ranch. On festival days, Friday, June 26, through Sunday, June 28, temporary signage will advise motorists of the event, and of potential delays. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Gary Ballard of Leggett has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow access for the Junior Reid Concert to be held near Standish Hickey State Park on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Work at the Confusion Hill Realignment project near Redwoods River Resort will continue. On Friday, June 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – MCM Construction of North

Highlands.

– Work at the Confusion Hill Realignment project from Confusion Hill to the junction of Route 101/271, near Reynolds, will continue. On Friday, June 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., traffic will be

restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – MCM Construction of North Highlands.

Highway 128

–The Cahn Family Farm of Philo has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to reconstruct a road approach between Haehl Street and Hutsell Road beginning Monday, June 29. Work hours are 8 a.m. to

2 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– AT&T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work from the Dry Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles east of Dry Creek Bridge. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Sand Bank Creek to Short Creek Road. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 271

– Work at the Confusion Hill Realignment project will continue. On Friday, June 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the onramp to southbound Route 101 will be closed. A detour will be provided. Contractor – MCM Construction of North Highlands.

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).

LAKEPORT – The annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser will take place this Friday, June 26, in Lakeport.

Lakeport Police Chief Kevin Burke and Renee's Cafe, 1005 N. Main, will host the event from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Local law enforcement officers – from the Lakeport Police, California Highway Patrol, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Probation the District Attorney's Office – will serve patrons breakfast and lunch.

All tips will benefit Lake County Special Olympics, which is sending six athletes to the Special Olympics Summer Games this weekend in Davis.