LAKEPORT – Barty Bartlett, the beloved, world-renowned mascot of the Lake County Fair, has been spotted several times around Lake County and has put in daily appearances at the annual fair, which began Thursday and wraps up on Sunday.

Barty, as the character is known, retired after the 2004 Lake County Fair, saying he was worn out and needed a rest. His return this year was unexpected, as repeated calls to him over the years have gone unanswered.

“I heard he was back,” said fair board president Janeane Bogner, “ but I haven’t seen him. People told me he was around this summer.”

“I think Barty went on one of those reality makeover shows on television,” said fair CEO Richard Persons, adding, “he’s got a new wardrobe, and he looks younger. I think he’s been hanging out at a fancy spa lately, getting rejuvenated. He looks like he might have had a little work done, a nip or tuck here and there. But you didn’t hear that from me.”

Barty Bartlett first began appearing at the Lake County Fair around 1990, and put in 15 years as the event’s mascot before announcing his retirement after the 2004 fair.

Over the years, Barty rode all the rides, ate all the foods, visited all the buildings, watched all the shows, and was kissed by all the Miss Lake County’s. In an effort to stay fresh and succulent, he even took up inline skating one year, zipping back and forth throughout the fair.

Barty Bartlett is known to love parades, and has participated in dozens of them all over Lake County. He was in this year's annual Lake County Fair parade down Lakeport’s Main Street on Thursday, Sept. 3, and took part in the ribbon cutting to open the event.

“You never know where he’ll show up,” said Persons. “He wanders the fairgrounds, greeting young and old alike. He loves getting his picture taken with fairgoers. Sometimes he’s in the carnival. Sometimes in the grandstands. And I’ve seen him at the junior livestock auction, although I think he’s afraid of getting sold or eaten. After all, he is a ripe and juicy Lake County pear.”

Along with Barty Bartlett, fairgoers can expect appearances by Chaz the Juggling Unicyclist; Ken Garr, Magician to the Crowds; Mickey the Clown; and Billy DeWaal, also known as William Wayne, who has been delighting generations of fairgoers with his variety of acts since 1948.

Regular admission prices for the fair are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free each day. Parking is $5 per car.

More fair information can be obtained on the Internet at www.lakecountyfair.com or by calling 707-263-6181.

Drills will be demonstrated at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. both days.

The public is invited to witness firefighters make aggressive interior attacks in a lifelike prop specially

designed for training purposes.

Additionally, various fire departments will recruit volunteers; no experience is required.

The fire prop will be located at the southwest corner of the fair near turn one of the racetrack.

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

Caltrans is suspending highway work through the Labor Day weekend, with work to resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– A highway widening project from Government Street to Rancheria Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate

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

– 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 7AM to 4PM, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– A highway widening and lighting project at Spruce Grove Road will continue. A shoulder closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 175

– AT&T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs 0.3 mile east of the junction of Route 29/175 near Kelseyville on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– North Gualala Water Co. has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a water main from Big Gulch Road to Glennen Drive beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. 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.

– Bridge deck repairs at Alder Creek Bridge, Elk Creek Bridge, and Russian Gulch Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect at one bridge at a time. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

– 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.

– Bridge deck repairs at Casper Creek Bridge and Hare Creek Bridge will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect at one bridge at a

time. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

– The city of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the Paul Bunyan Days Labor Day Parade between Madrone Avenue and Fir Street on Monday, Sept. 7. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be available.

Route 20 (25.9) – Construction of a retaining wall 0.4 mile east of Three

Chop Road will continue. Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays. One-way

traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute

delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah. LC#C20KM

Highway 20

– Anthony Faga of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a road approach between 0.7 mile west of Old Lake County Road and Old Lake County Road. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 101

– Storm damage repair from 0.5 mile north of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line 1.6 miles south of East Side 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.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration and a slipout from 1.1 miles north of Reeves Canyon Road to 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.

Highway 128

– Bridge deck repairs at the North Fork Navarro River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute

delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

– AT&T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility relocation from 1.5 to 3.5 miles east of Mountain House Road beginning Thursday, Sept. 10. One-way traffic

control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Repair of a slipout near the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute

delays. Contractor – Fedco Construction of Santa Rosa.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

– A highway reconstruction and realignment project 1.6 miles east of Rodeo Creek Bridge 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 five-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 253

– A culvert replacement project from Butler Ranch to Stipp Lane will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute

delays. Contractor – Coast Construction Inc. of San Rafael.

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 Seniors Day at Lake County Fair will take place this year on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Seniors 60 and over will be admitted all day at the discounted price of $4. Gates open at 11 a.m. Sunday. Seniors are advised to visit early in the day before the evening crowds become hard to negotiate.

Regular admission prices for the 2009 Lake County Fair are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 through 11. Admission prices are unchanged since 2007. Children under 6 years old are admitted free everyday.

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport. The 2009 fair dates are Thursday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 6.

LAKEPORT – It just wouldn't be the Lake County Fair without a barn full of livestock raised by local youth, shown Thursday and Friday in fierce competition to see who has raised the best lamb, hog or steer, and then sold to the rhythmic patter of the auctioneers and the roar of the crowd on a warm Saturday afternoon.

The auction is sponsored by Umpqua Bank, which provides immediate payment to the youthful sellers, then collects from the buyers in the days just following the sale.

The annual Junior Livestock auction kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, and is expected to offer around 230 lots of prize winning livestock, poultry, and rabbits for potential buyers from throughout Northern California.

A registered buyer's luncheon immediately precedes the sale at 10:30 am, offering a tri-tip barbecue to all registered buyers under the auspices of the Kelseyville FFA boosters. The luncheon is provided in part by Safeway of Lakeport, and ends when the sale starts at 1 p.m.

In recent years, the sale has been split into two sales rings which operate at the same time, making for a total sale length of around three and a half hours and providing buyers with plenty of time to visit the rest of the Lake County Fair.

An average of around 230 lots have been offered for a number of years, and the 2007 total auction proceeds were nearly than $277,000.

“It's a real indication that the community supports youth programs like 4-H and the Future Farmers of America," said Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons, adding, “those programs teach kids about agriculture, which is Lake County's largest economic sector, and about teamwork, sportsmanship, honor, and responsibility. We're hoping the community continues to support these programs, and we'd like to set a new record sale this year. Many of these kids save the money for college or other educational efforts, and eventually return to Lake County to become farmers and ranchers, so in the long run the whole community benefits.”

Steers, lambs, hogs, meat goats, turkeys, rabbits and chickens are offered during the auction, with grand champion winners crossing the auction block at the start of the program.

Two buyers are allowed to join together for the purchase of one lot, and buyers who are unable to attend can arrange for a proxy to buy on their behalf.

People who don't have enough space in their freezer to purchase at the auction may still have a chance to purchase prize winning meats, as a number of local grocers purchase at the sale and then offer the prime cuts at the meat counter in their stores.

Regular admission prices for the 2009 Lake County Fair are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 through 11. Admission prices are unchanged since 2007. Children under 6 years old are admitted free everyday.

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport. The 2009 fair dates are Thursday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 6.

The Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by more than 37,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows. This year's theme is “Fun in the Sun!”