From back to front, Angie Wilkison, NCA Staff Julia, Amanda Smith, Rebecca Swaney, Miranda Hickey, Kayhli Baumgartner, Kayla Boyle and Shaina Folger. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE – The Upper Lake High School Cheerleaders, accompanied by Coach Shalean Smith, recently returned from a National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) camp. The camp was held at the University of California Davis and attracted approximately 200 cheerleaders from around the state.

Founded in 1948 by L.R. Herkimer, NCA/NDA hosts camps, championships and events for 150,000 cheerleaders and dancers each year.

As part of a four-day camp curriculum, the National Cheerleaders Association selects award winners at each of the over 1,000 camps it administers around the world each summer. Awards are given for individual and team accomplishments.

Amanda Smith, Kayhli Baumgartner, Kayla Boyle and Shaina Folger were awarded with All American nominations. All Americans are outstanding individuals who display strength in one of the following categories: motions, jumps, stunts, tumbling, dance or leadership.

The ULHS Cheer team was honored with the S.P.O.T Award for excellence in use of safety while stunting, spotting and proper stunt technique. The Cheer Team also competed in and won the “Game Day Top Team Award” and took home the “Spirit Stick Award.”

Coach Smith was pleased with her team’s performance. “We do have a small team but what they lack in size they make up for in spirit and dedication,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to a great year. They’re a pleasure to work with.”

Smith received coaches credentialing for successfully completing the NCA Coaches Credentialing Program. NCA recognized her for her technical knowledge and hands-on training in cheerleading. Smith coached the ULHS football and basketball cheerleaders from 1992 to 1998 and returned this year to coach the football cheer team.

The ULHS Cheer Team will be choosing a community service project for the season as well as volunteering at local nursing homes and senior centers. Smith is challenging her team to achieve high academics as wells as making a commitment to their community.

Next summer the team will host a youth cheer camp in early July. Donations are being requested to assist the girls in deferring the rising cost of uniforms and camp.

Contributions can be made directly to ULHS Cheer. For questions or more information on supporting the ULHS Cheer Team contact Shalean Smith at 972-7197.

Left to right, Miranda Hickey, Kayhli Baumgartner, Amanda Smith, Kayla Boyle, Angie Wilkison, Shaina Folger and Rebecca Swaney. Courtesy photo.

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Lake County Wine Studio owner Susan Feiler welcomed Adventure guests with tastings of Zoom and Bell Hill Wines. Photo courtesy Lake County Winery Association.

Approximately 1,200 people participated in the event.

“That’s a 14-percent increase over last year, and it doesn’t include an estimated 300 to 350 designated drivers,” said Matt Hughes, chairman, Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) and winemaker, Zoom Wines.

A total of 24 member wineries and tasting rooms of the LCWA opened their doors to guests at venues scattered around the county, giving visitors a chance to experience the breadth of the wines offered from Lake County’s five distinct viticultural areas.

“The event is about our wines, which we’re very proud of, but it’s also about pairing wine with food,” explained Gregory Graham, owner of Gregory Graham Winery in Lower Lake. “Each Adventure venue offered an array of foods, carefully selected to complement its wines. For example, we served a chilled gazpacho with our Sauvignon Blanc, and with our Syrah we paired lamb lollipops grilled with a Moroccan spice rub. Not only do the pairings enhance the tasting experience, but they also give our guests ideas for food and wine pairings once they get back home.”

Langty Estate Tasting Room Staff Created a Western Theme for the Lake County Wine Adventure. Photo Courtesy Langtry Estate and Vineyards.

Online ticket sales were a new feature of this year’s adventure. Guests had the option of purchasing their tickets in advance through the association’s Web site (www.lakecountywineries.org) or day of event at any participating winery.

“We received very positive feedback from adventurers who purchased their tickets on-line,” said Nicole Johnson of Cougar’s Leap Winery in Kelseyville. “Each year we look for ways to make the event more efficient and enjoyable for our guests. This year we found the online ticket sales really saved time when guests checked-in at their first winery.”

As in past years, the participating wineries and tasting rooms endeavored to make the event a total experience, with some wineries offering barrel tastings, winery tours and entertainment.

“We had 595 guests over the two days,” said Kaj Ahlmann, owner of Six Sigma Ranch and Winery in Lower Lake. “Since our winery is in a ranch setting, a friend brought over his border collies, and while our guests were tasting wines and enjoying hors d’oeuvres, the collies herded sheep, all day, in plain view of the event site – it was quite a conversation piece.”

Six Sigma Ranch Sheep Herding Show. Photo courtesy of Tanya Don.

“This is the premiere event for wine lovers looking to find undiscovered gems,” said Hughes. “In one weekend 20-plus wineries pop onto the radar screen and Lake County stands side by side with the best regions of California. It is the support of our family and friends, with whom we share our passion, that makes the adventure possible, so we raise our glasses in their honor and toast to the success of future events.”

Konocti Catering paired Six Sigma Pinot Noir with Caponata on crackers. Photo courtesy Tanya Don.

Stephen Dilley, Tulip Hill Winery, offers guests barrel tastings. Photo courtesy Lake County Winery Association.

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Wade Koeninger, longest-serving member of the Mendocino College Board of Trustees, and his wife Mary Lou enjoy the festive setting at Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks in Hopland, site of the Mendocino College Foundation's Gala on the Green held June 21, 2008. Photo by Zohar Zaied.

HOPLAND – The Mendocino College Foundation's annual “Gala on the Green,” held this year on June 21, once again raised thousands of dollars to benefit both students and program.

This year's gala raised an estimated $30,000, the foundation reported.

Three prominent Lakeport residents – Peggy Campbell, Wilda Shock and David Geck – serve on the Mendocino College Foundation, and all three worked diligently to make this fundraising event happen.

Proceeds from the gala and other fundraising activities during the past 24 years have allowed the foundation to provide more than $675,000 in student scholarships and more than $500,000 in support for educational programs and districtwide projects.

Call the foundation office at 467-1018 for more information about becoming a Friend of Mendocino College.

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Mathews Road is located 0.15 miles from Highway 175.

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 urged anyone driving in the area to use caution.

The department also thanked the public for its patience and understanding while repairs are under way.

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The county’s air has improved and remained in the good classification this week. The air quality is expected to be in the good range for the weekend, with slight possibility of smoke intrusions, Reynolds reported.

No exceed of a health-based State or Federal Air Quality Standard is expected through Sunday, he said. Using the Federal Air Quality Index (AQI) for particulate matter, Lake County’s air quality is expected to be in the good to moderate range. The AQI for particulate is expected to remain well below 101 where an unhealthy alert is given.

Recent smoke intrusions into the Lake County Air Basin during last week resulted primarily from the Yolla Bolly complex and remainder of the Lime complex, Reynolds reported. Some uncontained wildfires continue to burn in Northern California resulting in occasional smoke, haze and degraded air quality.

Though progress has been made on wildfires remaining on federal land, much of the Lime and Yolla Bolly complexes are in rugged and remote areas and are unlikely to be extinguished soon. The Soda Butte Complex wildfires are contained. Yolla Bolly is only 40 percent contained. No uncontained fires remain in Lake County.

Reynolds said winds are expected to be southwest to northwest and should continue through Sunday. This should keep most smoke from these ongoing wildfires to the north and east of the Lake County Air Basin. There is a slight chance of northerly winds developing over the weekend.

Residual smoke can be expected to remain throughout all areas of Northern California, including Lake County, though at a reduced level, until all the numerous lightning caused wildfires are out.

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The Cub Scouts and friend prepare to take a turn on their bikes at the annual bike rodeo on Saturday, July 19, 2008. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – July 19 was bicycle rodeo time for Cub Scouts in Pack 142 of Lakeport.

Cubmaster Diane Allen said the boys had fun and enjoyed learning the rules of safe bicycling.

The event was made possible by several individuals and organizations, which the group thanked for their efforts.

The pack thanked Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka for use of their property, and Lakeport Police Officer Destry Henderson and volunteer Patricia McFarland for teaching bicycle safety and rules along with registering and licensing the bicycles.

In addition, they offered thanks to Lakeport Fire Protection District, which made sure the boys had refreshing, ice cold water to keep hydrated while biking. Cub Scout Pack 142 parent volunteers Paul McGuire, Bob Allen and Peggy Alexander also received recognition for their participation.

Allen said Pack 142 also was scheduled to visit the USS Pampanito, a World War II-era submarine in San Francisco, this past weekend.

Cubmaster Diane Allen and her Cub Scouts, along with Lakeport Police volunteer Patricia McFarland, at the Cub Scout Pack 142 Bike Rodeo on Saturday, July 19, 2008. Courtesy photo.

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