Ashley Johnson (left) was crowned Miss Lake County Rodeo Princess 2008 and Stormie Shores (right) was crowned Miss Lake County Rodeo Queen 2008. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Stormie Shores was crowned the 2008 Miss Lake County Rodeo Queen on Friday night, July 11, at the Lake County Rodeo.

Stormie is a freshmen at Kelseyville High School, is the vice president in the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen and raises market lambs in 4-H for the Lake County Fair. In her spare time, she enjoys trail riding, barrel racing and raises Tennessee Faining Goats.

Stormie was accompanied by the 2008 Miss Lake County Rodeo Princess, Ashley Johnson who is a sophomore at Kelseyville High School and is also a member of the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen, rides on the Junior Drill Team and also raises market lambs for fair.

Shea Odom was crowned Miss Congeniality and is a resident of Lakeport. Shea enjoys trail riding and raises turkeys and market goats for the Lake County Fair.

Two weeks before the rodeo, these three girls competed in a competition, which included a written test, speech, modeling, interview and completed a riding pattern. The competition was judged by Elise Thomas from Mendocino, Maureene Moore from Willits and Suzie Wiloth from Lower Lake.

Miss Lake County Rodeo Queen Stormie Shores was awarded an engraved saddle, breast collar, saddle blanket, an embroidered jacket, an engraved tiara and belt buckle, flowers, leather sash, teeth whitening gift certificate from Dr. Keith Long, DDS, a lifetime Lake County Rodeo access pass, and also received a stamped halter for winning the horsemanship portion of the competition in addition to her other high scores.

Miss Lake County Rodeo Princess Ashley Johnson was awarded an engraved breast collar, saddle blanket, an embroidered jacket, a tiara, sash, and was also awarded a $50 gift certificate to CJS ranch supply for selling the most raffle tickets during the competition.

To make the competition a fun and equal-opportunity event, the girls running for rodeo queen and princess are given the option of attending "rodeo queen clinic classes" which include meetings on makeup, hairstyles and clothing, as well as classes to practice their speeches and riding patterns together.

The 2009 Lake County Rodeo Queen and Princess competition opens April 1. The Lake County Rodeo Association is looking for "horsey" girls between the ages of 12 and 14 and 14 and 21 within Lake and the surrounding counties who are interested in promoting the Lake County Rodeo as its queen or princess.

If you are interested in running, please contact Melissa Fulton at 263-1845 or Sierra Shores at 245-7005.

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The training will be held August 5, 6 and 7 (Tuesday through Thursday) from 9 a.m. to noon at St. John's Lutheran Church on Memory Lane in Clearlake.

Friendly Visitors provide friendship and encouragement to homebound seniors in the South County area. The training is free.

Please contact Program Director Esther Oertel at 995-1417 for more information or to sign up for the volunteer training.

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4-Her Haydn Evans with one of his sheep. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE – My name is Hadyn Evans and I am a first year member of Anderson Marsh 4-H Club in Lower Lake. I have been working hard to get my projects ready for the Lake County Fair. The fair will be held Aug. 28-31 in Lakeport.

The best part of the summer for 4-Hers and Future Farmers of America members is the Junior Livestock Auction held Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Baldwin Livestock Pavilion at 1 p.m. Raising livestock is a huge commitment of time and money for us kids. I am planning on showing a market pig, market lamb, breeding sheep and chickens.

In March, I visited a pig farm and choose two pigs for my pig project. I am going to sell one pig and keep one pig for my family’s freezer.

I feed my pigs twice each day. I check them often throughout the day, especially when it gets really hot, to make sure they are comfortable. My pigs enjoy an afternoon shower to cool off. I let my pigs out for an evening stroll every night.

Pigs grow really fast. When I first picked my pig, he was about 10 pounds and I could carry him. At fair time, “Scrumptious” will be close to 300 pounds.

I joined 4-H in October, but have had sheep since last July. I bought three breeding ewes and a registered Suffolk ram. In February, my favorite ewe, Tank, had triplets! I will be showing all three lambs at this year’s fair. Two lambs will be kept as future breeding ewes and will be shown this year and next year. The wether lamb, “Charlie” will be my market lamb.

I feed my sheep two times a day. I exercise Charlie every day by riding my bike and leading Charlie. I’m hoping Charlie will be lean by end of summer!

I will also be showing my chickens. I have been raising chickens for five years. My favorite part of raising chickens is cooking myself a farm fresh fried egg sandwich!

In January, I went to Stockton to show my Black Old English Bantam chickens and compete in showmanship at the annual Pacific Poultry Breeder Show. I was happy to bring home a second place ribbon in Novice Showmanship.

I love learning about all the different breeds of poultry and hatching chicks. I will be showing chicks I hatched in an incubator last year.

I have had fun this year in 4-H. My 4-H club, Anderson Marsh, is also in its first year. The club meets the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Clearlake Callyomi Masonic Lodge in Clearlake. I’m the sergeant-at-arms and help the president in maintaining order and setting up the meeting hall. My other projects are shooting and outdoor adventure.

I’m looking forward to showing at the Ukiah Fair, Aug. 7-10, and the Boonville Fair, Sept. 12-14.

Taking care of my animals has helped me learn responsibility, record keeping and many new things.

With the money from selling my market animals, I plan to buy breeding sheep and chickens, a kennel for my new hunting dog, and maybe a gas power RC car. I enjoy fishing and hunting with my family. When I grow up I want to be a state trapper.

4-H Youth Development is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension. For more information on the 4-H program contact U.C. Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, 263-6838.

Haydn also enjoys raising chickens. Courtesy photo.

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The doors open at 9 a.m. and the meeting begins at 10 a.m. Come early to browse the quilt library, sign up for special events and socialize.

“Quilt Diva” Karen Boutte will present a program entitled “Inspiration and Creativity.” Visit her Web site, www.quiltdiva.com, for samples of her work.

A reminder to quilters – Aug. 2 is the deadline to submit entry forms for the Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild’s annual quilt show, held the first full weekend in October.

Entry forms are available on the guild’s Web site, www.LLQG.org, or call 262-1201.

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild welcomes all quilters and prospective quilters to its meetings and events. Through a variety of programs and projects, the quilt guild members learn new skills and techniques, benefit the Lake County community, and enjoy themselves immensely.

For more information, contact Dottie at 462-7036 or Donna 262-1201, or visit the Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild Web site at www.LLQG.org.

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Volunteers honored by Konocti Senior Support Inc. included, from left, Jim Morgan, Clearlake Oaks; Christine Mickle, Kelseyville; Ida Arneson, Clearlake; and Janet Taylor, Lakeport. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE – Volunteers providing peer counseling and friendly visits to Lake County seniors were honored recently by the board of Konocti Senior Support Inc. with a luncheon at Orchard Park Assisted Living and Memory Care in Clearlake.

“We appreciate our many volunteers,” said Lawrence Grant, board president, Konocti Senior Support Inc. “Because of their dedication, our services reach hundreds of local senior citizens.”

Those participating in the event included volunteers, Ida Arneson and Dottie West, Clearlake; Janet Taylor, Lakeport; Bonnie Flynn, Nice; Christine Mickle, Kelseyville; Carol Frost, Clearlake Park; Sharon Ashley, Glenhaven; Cathy Jones, Spring Valley; Doug Bennett and Jim Morgan, Clearlake Oaks; and Judy Kauffman, Bill Barrows and Connie Miller, Hidden Valley Lake.

Other attendees were Senior Peer Counseling Program Director Kim Baughan Young, MFT, and Friendly Visitor Program Director Esther Oertel; and board members Larry Grant, Hope Brewer, Jane McKnight, Charmaine Webb, Susanne La Faver, Gwen Snyder and Beth Turman.

Konocti Senior Support Inc., incorporated in 1995, is a nonprofit public service corporation dedicated to enhancing seniors’ quality of life. The organization provides free peer counseling throughout Lake County and administers the Friendly Visitor Program in South County. All services are free.

For more information, contact Gwen Snyder at 995-1417.

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Screenings are planned for 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. July 26.

July’s main film is “Call of the Hummingbird” by Alice Klein.

In the gorgeous setting of central Brazil, a rag tag group of 1,000 permaculture experts, Rastafarians, alternative health practitioners, 13 Moon Calendar followers and nongovernmental organization executives work toward a do-it-yourself action plan to make the world a better place in 13 days! But who is going to deal with the garbage?

Welcome to “Survivor” for social change addicts where consensus is the only way to make decisions. Anyone can speak, for as long as they like about whatever they want, and they do!

The film’s fascinating characters take us on a journey that covers terrain from the practices of permaculture and consensus facilitation all the way to the meaning of the Mayan calendar, which mysteriously ends in 2012 – just a few short years away. In the process we are introduced to new ideas about politics, nature and even time itself.

There will also be a short film and animation. The program runs approximately 90 minutes.

Parental discretion is advised (nudity, language). Cost at door is $10 for adults, $5 for 16 and under. Doors open half hour before screening. Coyote Popcorn and refreshments will be for sale.

Hey, why not take time for lunch or dinner at any of the restaurants in and around Middletown as well as picnicking at the benches and tables on the Calpine grounds?

The rest of this year’s fest will be an exciting lineup which will be announced soon.

In September Coyote Film Festival is screening “Sherman’s Way,” a romantic comedy partly shot in Lake County and winning independent festival awards. Director Craig Saavedra will be on hand and we working out all the details.

The Calpine Geothermal Visitor's Center is located at 15500 Central Park Road, off of Highway 29, in Middletown.

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