Skip the dog went missing from his family's home in Kelseyville, Calif., on Friday, March 4, 2011. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Kelseyville family is hoping to get assistance from the community in finding a beloved pet that went missing Friday.

Skip, the 18-year-old Dachshund/Jack Russell mix belonging Kelseyville resident Valerie Sullivan, is believed to have wandered out a yard gate that was inadvertently left open at his family's home on Lillian Drive.

Skip is blind and deaf. He is dapple colored, and his face is gray due to age. He is believed to be wandering in the Kelseyville area.

If anyone finds Skip they are asked to call Valarie Sullivan at 707-533-3051 or her daughter Kendra Runyon at 707-533-7348.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, March 5, “The Law Show” will host a discussion on an effort to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in Lake County.

The show will air from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on KPFZ, 88.1 FM.

Anti-marijuana forces have launched a Web site, www.nodispensaries.com. The purpose is to convince the public in general and the Board of Supervisors in particular to ban all medical pot dispensaries in the entire unincorporated area of Lake County, which is everywhere but the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport.

At 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, the Board of Supervisors will take up the request for a ban on dispensaries.

Host Herb Gura's guest on “The Law Show” will be Lower Lake attorney and medical marijuana rights advocate Ron Green.

Gura invited members of the anti-marijuana camp, but none responded to take part in the show.

Gura invites them and listeners to call in to the studio, 707-263-3435.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– AT&T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs 0.8 mile east of Rosemont Drive beginning Monday, March 7. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Metal be a.m. guardrail repair at the Saint Helena Creek Bridge will continue beginning Tuesday, March 8. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

– Metal be a.m. guardrail repair at the Coyote Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield. LC#C29IG

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming 0.2 mile north of Airport Road through Friday, March 4. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming 2.0 miles south of Blue Slide Gulch through Friday, March 4. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101

– A pavement repair project from the Robinson Creek Bridge to Uva Drive will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 4 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Southbound 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. Northbound ramps at Lake Mendocino Drive (Exit 552), Calpella (Exit 555A), and Route 20 (Exit 555B) as well as southbound ramps at West Road (Exit 557), Route 20 (Exit 555B) and Calpella (Exit 555A) will be intermittently closed. Motorists will be advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– Repair of a slipout from 3.4 to 1.2 miles 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 – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

All projects are weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans wishes to advise 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).

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club will hold a regular meeting on Saturday, March 12.

Regular Lake County Democratic Club meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month at noon in the Rose Room of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10th and Country Club Drive).

The public is always invited to the Democratic Club meetings.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-277-0713 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Redwood Empire Civil War Round Table will hold its next meeting on Monday, March 7, at 6:15 p.m.

The location will be at the historic Tallman Hotel in downtown Upper Lake.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Bill Cornelison, former Lake County schools superintendent.

Dr. Cornelison will be speaking about the leaders of the two sides in the conflict, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

This will be followed by a short presentation by Phil Smoley on other events that transpired in March 1861 that led up to the start of the war.

A discussion of the presentations will follow.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The management of the Blue Wing Saloon (restaurant next door) is offering an “early bird special” – 10 percent off the bill of any round table attendee (reservation must be for 5:30 p.m. or earlier to receive discount). Call 707-275-2233 for reservations if you want to have dinner there prior to the round table.

For more information contact Zane Jensen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Cole Creek Equestrian Center is pleased to announce the return of popular author and clinician Jec Ballou for a series of clinics for 2011.

This year's first clinic is Saturday, April 9,and Sunday, April 10.

The newly constructed Cole Creek Equestrian Center is centrally located in Kelseyville off Steelhead Road and features a large covered arena with state of the art footing, round pen, and guest stabling with paddock and stalls, surrounded by miles of scenic trails.

Jec Ballou has taught in Lake County for five seasons, and brings her good communication skills and keen eye to both her private and group lessons.

She has studied with numerous European dressage masters, and currently is mentored by Manolo Mendez, past head rider for the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Arts in Jerez, Spain.

In addition to her solo clinics in the North and East Bay areas and in Santa Cruz county, she has recently collaborated with accredited fitness trainers and natural horsemanship coaches to produce clinics which address human and equine fitness for every rider and horse discipline.

Ballou also was a featured speaker at the 2010 Horse Expo Sacramento and the Equine Affaire in Southern California last month.

Ballou's second book, “Equine Fitness,” published in 2010, presents a collection of ridden and in-hand exercises targeting specific muscle groups in your horse, leading to increased stamina and suppleness appropriate for all riding endeavors, and producing a healthier, happier horse.

Her basic philosophy is, “Dressage principles for every equine athlete.”

Private and group lessons are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please contact Kate Schmidt-Hopper for detailed information and to request a registration packet at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 707-987-0421 or 707-355-0358.

A visit to Ballou's Web site will offer more information about this clinician, www.jecballou.com.