Monday, 25 November 2024

Community

NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. —‌ Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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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. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

Caltrans will suspend most work on Northern California highways from Friday, May 27, through Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial Day weekend. However, in the case of unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans crews to respond to emergency situations.

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE‌‌ ‌‌COUNTY‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Highway‌‌ ‌‌29

— Road work continues near Hidden Valley Lake at Spruce Grove Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Emergency Road work continues in Westport from Blue Slide Gulch to Pacific Avenue. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Guardrail work in Willits west of the 101 Jct will continue. One-way traffic control will be in place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Northbound Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Fence work at the East Perkins Street Overcrossing in Ukiah will begin on Tuesday, May 31. Lane closures will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Moss Cove Safety Rest Area will be closed through July 2022.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through July 2022.

Highway 162

— Road work south of Dos Rios near the Rodeo Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 271

— Slide removal continues south of Piercy near Reynolds State Park Road. A lane closure is in effect and motorists should use an alternate route.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Construction work from the Route 169 junction to north of Klamath will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work north of Klamath near Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 25-minute delays at all hours.

— Bridge work at Rowdy Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

Highway 199

— Construction work near Kings Valley Road will begin on Tuesday, May 31. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work at Hiouchi Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

— Permitted cleanup and repair work between Hiouchi and Gasquet will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Bridge work from Mary Adam Peacock Bridge to Wagon Wheel Cafe will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

— Bridge work at Middle Fork Smith River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— Permitted utility work 1.5 miles west of Abe Wouk Memorial Grove Road will occur on Wednesday, June 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Permitted utility work at Private Road will occur on Thursday, June 2. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Construction work from Buck Mountain Road to the Trinity County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. A northbound onramp closure will also be in effect. Motorists should use an alternate route.

— Part of The Kinetic Grand Championship will take place on Sunday, May 29. A lane closure between the Herrick Avenue Overcrossing and Tompkins Hill Road will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Construction from the Herrick Avenue Overcrossing to Washington Street in Eureka will continue. Lane closures will be in effect in both directions from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. weeknights. A full lane closure is currently in effect at Washington Street. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction from the St Louis Road Overcrossing to Mad River Bridge will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Starting May 31 at 9 p.m. a full ramp closure will be in effect at the Route 101/299 Junction. Motorists should choose an alternative route.

— Construction work from Murray Road Overcrossing to Georgia Pacific Road will begin on Tuesday, May 31. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 169

— Permitted utility at Private Road will occur on Friday, June 3. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 211

— Part of The Kinetic Grand Championship will take place on Monday, May 30. A full closure between Ocean Avenue and Eel River Drive will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 254

— Permitted utility work south of Bear Creek Bridge will occur on Thursday, June 2. One-way traffic will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 255

— Part of The Kinetic Grand Championship will take place on Saturday, May 28. One-way traffic control between Jackson Ranch Road and Dean Avenue will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Permitted utility work between K and V streets will begin on Wednesday, May 1. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. A full closure will also be in effect at the K Street intersection. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 299

— Construction near Route 200 will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns.

— Paving east of Blue Lake will continue. The westbound offramp at the Truck Scale House will be closed. Motorists should use an alternate ramp.

— Construction east of the Burney Vista Point will continue. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Praises of Zion Baptist Church in Clearlake will be hosting a 12 Tribe yard sale on Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be a variety of new and used items. There will be a haircutting booth by a licensed cosmetologist. Get a great haircut for a minimum of a $10 donation.

There will be food, drinks and baked goods available, including hot dogs and spaghetti. Coffee and pastries are available for purchase in the morning.

There is ample parking and a playground under the trees for the children to use while you shop.

There is a 50/50 cash raffle and a raffle for a pingpong table. You need not be present to win.

This is a fundraiser for the building fund for a new church. Praises of Zion is located at 3890 Emile Ave (off Davis Street) Clearlake.

Check out the Facebook page at Praises of Zion Baptist Church Clearlake. Call 707 995-1319 for more information.

You can find more information about Praises of Zion on their website, www.praisesofzion.org.

Amidst continuing failures by the Department of Insurance to maintain public access to government records, the California State Assembly on Monday approved AB 2370 by Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-Marin County), which will restore transparency to a state agency plagued by scandal.

The bill was approved on a vote of 65 to 0.

In late 2021, the Department of Insurance attempted to institute an email retention policy under which all emails would automatically delete after 180 days unless manually archived.

Such records are essential to ensure that insurance companies are living up to their promises to protect consumers and that the department is acting properly in regulating the nation’s largest insurance market.

AB 2370 applies current local government record retention requirements of at least two years to all state agencies. Such a change will increase public confidence in the actions of state agencies and make public information more easily accessible to those who request it.

“It is incomprehensible that Commissioner Ricardo Lara attempted to auto-delete all Department of Insurance emails while simultaneously fighting in court to subvert the California Public Records Act,” said Assemblymember Marc Levine. “Californians need to regain trust in the Department of Insurance and have faith that the public officials entrusted to protect consumers are fighting for them, not for insurance companies. AB 2370 is an important tool necessary to restore ethics and transparency in the Department of Insurance and continue the Department’s mission to fight for consumers across the state.”

AB 2370 now heads to the State Senate for further action.

Despite the dry year, outdoor recreationists who enjoy California rivers and streams should remain aware of dangerously cold, swiftly moving water.

Although California’s snowpack is well below normal, snow is melting and filling streams and rivers.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. urges those who venture near or into water to take extra precautions, especially around hydroelectric facilities and dams, where flow conditions can change rapidly. With trout season largely open, anglers also are encouraged to take precautions.

“Safety is PG&E’s most important responsibility. We encourage everyone recreating in or near water to plan at all times how they can quickly and safely escape in case of changing water flows and cold temperatures,” said Jan Nimick, PG&E vice president of Power Generation.

Most California rivers are fed by snowmelt, making them cold even in summer. Simple actions can save lives, such as recognizing if the water is too cold or swift, knowing your limits, wearing a life jacket or simply by not entering the water when conditions seem unsafe.

Below are some water safety tips.

Stay out and stay alive — stay out of canals and flumes

Recreating in PG&E canals and flumes is strictly prohibited. Stay off of elevated flumes and out of these water conveyances, regardless of who owns them, as they are dangerous due to slippery sides and fast-moving cold water.

Be mindful of signs and warnings. Stay out of areas that are posted as restricted, fenced-off or buoy-lined.

Know the risks

• Prevention is the best way to save a person from drowning. By the time a person is struggling in the water, a rescue is extremely unlikely and places the rescuer at risk.
• Sudden immersion in cold water can stimulate the “gasp reflex,” causing an involuntary inhalation of air or water. It can even trigger cardiac arrest, temporary paralysis, hypothermia and drowning. When faced with swift water, even the strongest swimmers can be easily overwhelmed.
• Cold water entering the ear canal can cause vertigo and disorientation. This can confuse swimmers, potentially causing them to venture deeper into the water.
• Cold water also reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same temperature and causes impairment that can be fatal.

Learn about self-rescue techniques

If you do fall into the water, here are some survival tips:

• Don’t panic. Try to control your breathing; don’t gasp. A sudden, unexpected fall into cold water causes an involuntary gasp (or torso) reflex. It takes less than one-half cup of water in a person’s lungs to drown. If you remain calm, you have a greater chance of self-rescue.
• If you have a boat, stay with it. It will help you stay afloat and will be seen more easily by rescuers. If it’s capsized and a portion of the craft is above water, try to climb on top.
• Stay afloat with the help of a life jacket, regain control of your breathing and keep your head above water in view of rescuers.
• If possible, remove heavy shoes. Look for ways to increase buoyancy such as by holding onto seat cushions or an ice chest.
• If you’re in the water with others, huddle together facing each other to help everyone stay afloat and keep warm.
• If you do fall into a river without a life jacket, keep your feet pointed downstream and turn onto your back.
• If you fall into the water with waders on, roll onto the shore. Wear a belt with waders.

Know your limits

• Swimming in open water is more difficult than in a swimming pool — people tire more quickly and can get into trouble.
• Many unseen obstacles can be lurking below the water’s surface — this is especially the case during spring and early summer snowmelt. Rising water can make these obstacles even more treacherous. Guided trips for inexperienced paddlers are recommended.

Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket

Conditions change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills when boating or swimming.

Adult supervision

Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention. Do not assume that someone is watching them. Appoint a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults. Use the buddy system and never swim alone.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Genealogical Society will present a tour of the historic section of the Upper Lake Cemetery on Saturday, May 28.

The tour begins at 10 a.m. at the cemetery arch on the east side of Clover Valley Road.

Starting off the tour will be a grave dowsing demonstration and instruction. This activity is used to locate bodies in unmarked graves.

Older cemeteries often contain headstones which identify parent's names, but not their children. Identifying the number of children buried in a grave site helps a genealogist determine the number of family members to research.

Local genealogist Anita Crabtree and others will conduct the tour with life histories of some buried therein, such as Joy Madeiros, members of the Bear Flag Revolt, the Cache Creek Dam vigilanties and others as the tour progresses.

The 45-year-old nonprofit Lake County Genealogical Society maintains a Research Library of local families, along with other historic documents and is seeking a permanent home in Lakeport so the public can access the collection.

Until such time, research inquiries can be made to Anita Crabtree via phone at 707-275-2144 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Oak woodland in Lake County, California, by Victoria Brandon.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Sierra Club Lake Group will host award winning artist, April Lynch, on the diverse species of oak trees native to this region at their next community meeting on Thursday, May 26, at 6 p.m.

The presentation and discussion will be held via Zoom video conference and live-streamed on Facebook. The meeting is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required to attend via Zoom.

Lynch, a Master Gardener since 2009, will share about the diverse species of native oaks in Lake County.

Her work is based on 12 years of research and includes more than 150 scenic photographs of oak trees and other natural wonders from Colusa, Lake and Sonoma counties.

Born and raised in California, her interests include native oaks, wildflowers, vegetable gardening and home orchards.

She is a photographer and an award-winning artist; and has co-authored and published “Wildflowers! A Guide to Identifying the Wildflowers of Northern California's Wine Country.”

Sierra Club Lake Group President Deb Sally, explained, "As one of our dominant species in Lake County, these trees are not only magnificent in beauty and increase property value, but they provide important benefits for many species like shade and habitat, food, and soil erosion protection.”

To register for the event, visit the Lake Group’s online calendar at www.sierraclub.org/redwood/lake.

Registrants will receive access information upon registration and a confirmation reminder the morning of the event. Zoom space is limited, so the event will also be live-streamed via the Lake Group's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sierraclublake.

The Sierra Club Lake Group represents more than 400 Sierra Club members living in Lake County and is part of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club that represents the northwest region of California.

The group works to preserve Lake County's wild heritage; protect and restore Clear Lake and its watershed; and promote smart growth, sustainable practices and environmentally friendly development. It also fosters a meaningful connection to the environment for the community to value and enjoy through guided hikes and community events.

For more information about the Sierra Club Lake Group, visit www.sierraclub.org/redwood/lake or call 707-994-1931.

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