In 2002, the AMBER Alert Network was created to aid law enforcement in the safe return of child abduction victims. Currently the system includes messages that interrupt broadcast programs, roadside signs by major highways and streamlined notification of law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout.

Last week, through a partnership with the wireless telephone industry, the California Highway Patrol announced that cell phone users can “opt in” to receive AMBER notifications via text message on their cell phones. The service is free and available to nearly all cell phone users in California. The instructions are now also available on-line in Spanish for the first time.

“California’s AMBER Alert Program is the role model for successful partnerships between government, law enforcement, the media and the general public,” said Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Secretary Dale Bonner.

“This will add thousands of eyes to look for victims and suspects in AMBER Alert cases during those first critical hours of an abduction,” said CHP Deputy Commissioner Skip Carter.

Most wireless subscribers can enroll by sending the word “AMBER” followed by a space and their 5-digit ZIP code in a text message to 26237. More than 30 wireless carriers, which serve 96 percent of all U.S. subscribers, offer the Wireless AMBER Alerts program. Cell phone users can also register on-line.

“We believe this is a compelling way to raise awareness about a vitally important child safety tool,” said David S. Diggs, Executive Director of The Wireless Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed by members of the cellular telephone industry. “We hope everyone signs up for this free service and helps play a crucial role in the safe recovery of an abducted child.”

Since it was formed nearly six years ago, the AMBER Alert program in California is credited with the safe recovery of 148 children.

“It is critical to get the word out within the first three hours of an abduction to have a successful outcome,” said Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian, representing the California Police Chief’s Association.

“Sending AMBER Alerts to people’s cell phones is another valuable tool in law enforcement’s arsenal to save abducted children,” stated Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Commander Rick Adams, representing the California State Sheriff’s Association.

The free service is the result of a partnership between the Wireless Foundation, CHP, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, The U.S. Department of Justice and the Advertising Council.

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The show can be found on 88.1 FM.

From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Voices of Lake County will replay the District 1 candidates debate recently aired on KPFZ on The Law Show with host Herb Gura.

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., the show will replace the recent District 5 candidates debate conducted in the Board of Supervisors Chambers on May 7 and moderated by Elizabeth Larson of Lake County News.

Due to the length of the programs, there will be no call-ins to discuss the debates.

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The first International Worm Races were held that year. Charles was right. Not only did worms race, but the first year’s event – held over three days – generated more than 1,000 entries.

Now held on the Saturday of the Lyon’s Club Fourth of July Parade and the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce Firework’s display, the races continue.

Through the years, some winning competitors were dug up in distant back yards and vegetable gardens, others were flown in from far away places, but local night crawlers have proven to be the most dependable.

Past winners who inched their way across the finish line ahead of their competitors included such greats as Lightning Harry, Fred, Heliatrophy, Master Gee and Slimey. One year, 8-year-old Eddy Sears not only won first prize with his worm Buddy, but claimed third and fourth place as well. The most recent finalists were simply named Wormie and Squirmie.

People have come from around the world to compete, and from many walks of life, including senators and congressmen.

In l980, NBC had television cameras from the show “Real People” to film the races. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat newspaper and a crew from “Animal Planet” were on hand when Eddy Sears set his record. More recently CBS and “Bay Area Back Roads” joined in the fun. One of their reporters got so caught up in the competition that he made it to the finals, placing second.

Eddy Sears and Buddy have since gone into retirement, leaving the field wide open for anyone to claim the prize. All ages are welcome to try. It’s easy to win. In fact, it’s so easy that last year’s winner was 2-year-old, Anthony Bradley. This year, who knows? Perhaps it’s time for an adult to claim top honors.

Last year's event held a special surprise for the competitors. Perrie Bassham, our first ever International Worms race winner, came back to pay us a visit. She and her dad, Paul Bassham, had spent a Father/daughter day on Clearlake. When they docked their boat, empty-handed, they saw all the excitement around the Worm Races. With a night crawler taken from the same can of worms they had been using to fish with, Perrie Bassham went all the way and won top prize – a brand new fishing pole and reel.

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

So what are you waiting for? If Anthony Bradley, Perrie Bassham and Eddy Sears can win it all, so can you. Worm-master Bill Edmunds and other Clearlake Chamber of Commerce members will be there to cheer you on to victory. You might even see yourself on TV.

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Her measure, Senate Bill 1460, requires the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to create a program (by July 1, 2010) to address the barriers preventing apartment building owners and residents of multi-unit apartments from participating in the California Solar Initiative (CSI).

In her testimony Tuesday afternoon, Wiggins said her bill “requires the PUC to create a program to provide incentives and rebates to apartment building owners and their tenants to participate in energy efficiency improvements and solar energy projects.

“This bill encourages the use of solar power in apartment buildings where solar power has been excluded, in spite of the fact that all ratepayers – including landlords and tenants – pay to fund the California Solar Initiative program,” Wiggins added.

“The bill has no impact on the State’s General Fund given that the funding for the State’s solar program is paid for entirely by ratepayers on their monthly electric utility bills,” she said.

Currently, all customers and ratepayers of electrical services pay a fee on their monthly utility bill to provide funding to the state’s CSI program, which is funded entirely funded by ratepayers and provides up to $3.3 billion over 10 years to subsidize homeowners and businesses that install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Among the barriers preventing owners and residents of multi-unit residential buildings from participating in the CSI program:

• Solar PV installations for one apartment or multi-unit dwelling must be connected to one meter as a matter of state policy. This has created problems in multi-unit, multi-metered buildings. State Law requires individual meters, with inverters (which convert solar to electricity, or DC to AC) for all dwelling units constructed after 1982 in multi-unit buildings. As a result, the upfront cost to install solar, combined with the additional cost of the inverters, is a disincentive for a building owner – even with a 40 percent state and federal rebate;

• The landlord/owner has to pay for the solar system but benefits very little from the solar power because it largely serves his or her tenants, even if the landlord resides at the apartment complex and/or the solar power offsets the electrical costs in common areas;

• The PUC requires “reasonable and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements” in existing buildings before an apartment building owner can apply for the CSI solar rebate program. The upfront costs of improvements – including installation of dual-paned windows, additional insulation, etc. – can serve as a disincentive for a building owner, who does not benefit from the efficiencies.

“These barriers hinder a major portion of the state’s ratepayers who contribute to the CSI Program from putting solar power on the power grid during peak energy demand days,” Wiggins said.

Tuesday’s approval by the Senate means that SB 1460 now moves to the Assembly for consideration.

For more information on SB 1460 or other bills authored by Wiggins, please visit her Web site, http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.

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The Diamonds will be playing in the gazebo from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and TNT's On The Lake will serve dinner for $18/person, from 6 p.m. to 7:30pm.

Some of the early arrivals of classic cars participating in the 17th Annual Roundup Car Show will be parked at Library Park that evening as they check in for early registration. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy and evening of entertainment.

On Saturday, May 31, two huge events will take place at Library Park – Wood and Glory and the annual Car Roundup.

The 10th annual Wood and Glory Classic Boat Show will showcase beautifully restored wooden boats, on display from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public will be invited to vote for their favorite wooden boat and by doing so will have an opportunity to win a framed copy of this years' Wood & Glory X poster.

A barbecue catered by Lakeview Market will be served at noon. The cost is $18/person, with only a limited number of barbecue meals available to the public.

Jim Williams and Ranch House will be playing in the gazebo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for everyone's listening pleasure.

The 17th annual Car Roundup car show will have 200 beautiful classic cars on display through 3 p.m.

There will be vendors with a variety of art, crafts, women's unique clothing, jewelry, free tokens for ice cream, auto- and motorcycle-related items, and the Plein Air Artists will have a display in the park.

For further information, contact the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 263-5092.

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SB 1557 amends legislation that Wiggins authored when she was in the Assembly, AB 857, which established planning priorities for state infrastructure.

“This bill adds three simple, but important, provisions to those priorities,” Wiggins said.

“First, it adds a reduction in greenhouse gases as a goal of the state’s planning priorities. Second, it considers a reduction of vehicle miles traveled when citing state infrastructure. Lastly, it updates the state administrative manual to include the planning priorities.”

Former Gov. Gray Davis signed AB 857 in 2002. That Wiggins bill established state planning priorities that would encourage the state to lead by example in development of infrastructure that support smart growth principles. While AB 857 was signed into law, there are varying opinions on whether or not the law has been adequately implemented.

Wiggins said SB 1557 will both update and strengthen the law created by her earlier bill by adding a provision stating that the planning priorities are intended to meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions limits that will be developed under AB 32, and by including efficient development patterns that will provide a reduction in vehicle miles traveled.

In 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's signed an executive order calling for reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2010 and 2020. The following year, he signed AB 32 (the California Global Warming Solutions Act, authored by former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez).

Wiggins represents the state’s 2nd Senate District, made up of portions or all of six counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

Now that it has passed the Senate, SB 1557 next goes to the Assembly for review.

For more information on SB 1557 or other legislation by Senator Wiggins, please visit her Web site at http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.

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