LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Most youngsters have played at being cowboys and cowgirls as they were growing up. Being a rodeo performer is also a dream for many.  

When the 83rd annual Lake County Rodeo comes to Lakeport on Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14, that dream can come true for those who enter the mutton bustin' competition.  

CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown is the continuing sponsor for this very popular event.

The competition will take place each evening between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Contestants should check in at the rodeo office no later than 5:15 p.m. on the day of their ride.  

Boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 8 years old, who must weigh in on those dates at no more than 50 pounds, can have the thrill of their life seeing how long they can ride a sheep.

The entry fee is $10 per youth, not including rodeo admission.

Contestants must be dressed in long sleeved shirts and jeans, sturdy boots/shoes, with a properly sized helmet.

The winners will receive a silver buckle. Every rider will be given an authentic mutton bustin' tee shirt, courtesy of CJS Ranch Supply.

Winners' buckles sponsored by CJS Ranch Supply will be awarded Friday and Saturday night to the youngsters who have the longest ride of the night.

This event fills up fast and contestants – or their mom and dad – should get signed up early.

The applications are available at www.lakecountyrodeo.com , just click on “Rodeo Forms.”

The applications also will be available at CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown; Marie's Feed in Clearlake, Barreda's Lower Lake Feed, Rainbow Ag in Lakeport and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at
Vista Point in Lakeport.  

For questions concerning the mutton bustin' competition, please contact Chair Angel Purdy at 707-228-6322.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rodeo is for all ages and on Friday, July 13, at the 83rd Annual Lake County Rodeo the Cutest Cowpoke Competition takes place.

The event will be held between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., in Lakeport.  

This contest is open to boys and girls, ages 4 to 8. There are no limit on the number of entries.  

Applications will be available online at www.lakecountyrodeo.com or at CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown, Marie's Feed in Clearlake, Barreda's Lower Lake Feed, Rainbow Ag in Lakeport and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at Vista Point in Lakeport.

The deadline to enter is Thursday, July 12.

All participants should arrive at the rodeo on Friday, no later than 5:15 p.m., to check in at the rodeo office. It is necessary to purchase tickets to the rodeo to participate, but there is no entry fee for the competition.

Children are encouraged to “dress Rodeo style,” but no live props are allowed.  

The winning boy and girl will each be awarded a special silver buckle for their prize.

The Cutest Cowpoke Competition is sponsored again this year by the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen and the Scotts Valley 4-H Horse Group.  

There will be three judges, one of whom is 2011 Lake County Rodeo Queen Shalena Stewart.

Chair for the 2012 Cutest Cowpoke competition is Michelle Scully, a past president of the Lake County Rodeo Association.  

For more information concerning this event, please call 707-245-7431.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Great weather, great entries and a very large appreciative crowd along the entire parade route made for a wonderful “Hello Summer” parade that highlighted the Memorial Day weekend festivities in Lakeport on Saturday, May 26.  

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the day's events, thanked everyone who participated in the 2012 Annual Memorial Day Parade to Main Street.

“This truly is a community effort,” said chamber President Jim Magliulo. “Without the entries from over 40 businesses, individuals and organizations, there would be no parade.”

Magliulo said the chamber could not produce the parade every year without its member volunteers, office staff and volunteers.

In addition, the assistance – both before and after the parade – of the Lakeport Public Works Department and the Lakeport Police Department were critical in making sure there was a safe and well marked parade route to keep vehicles and pedestrians safe at all times, the chamber reported.

The 2012 Parade Judges were District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington, Campos Casuals owner Ron Campos and CSHA Judge Kim Cipro of Hidden Valley Lake.  

Judges Talliers were Lori Palmieri of Hey...Hot Dog!, RheaBeth Campos, Campos Casuals and John
Tomlinson of New Vintage Productions.  

Paul Reading returned as the event's announcer, sharing many facts about Memorial Day and keeping the crowd well informed as the parade came past the judging stage.  

Once again, Mendo Mill Home Center and Lumber Company supplied the stage. Stage setup this year was done by John Fulton and Walt Southard.

For the 22nd year, Ginny Clinton chaired the parade lineup crew at the Lake County Fairgrounds.  

Volunteers assisting Clinton were her husband Barry Clinton, Lyle Coburn of Your One Stop Party Shop in Lakeport, Mike Gomes of the Office Spot, Dan Labelle of Labelle Enterprises, Elaine Lewis of
Affordable Cleaning Service, Dianna Hendrick, Lake County Superior Court and Cindy Poindexter of Mendo Lake Credit Union.  

The chamber expressed its appreciation to the Lake County Corvette Club for placing its Corvette parade entries in four different groups which allowed them to be better highlighted throughout the
parade route.

The full parade results are posted below.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE RESULTS – 2012

GRAND SWEEPSTAKES: People Services
THEME AWARD: People Services
JUDGES CHOICE: Clear Lake High School Marching Band
    
DIVISION I ~ FLOATS
Best of Division: People Services
    
COMMERCIAL:    
First place: People Services
Second place: Mendo Mill Home Center & Lumber Co.
                
FRATERNAL/SERVICE ORGANIZATION
First place: Lakeport Lions Club

MILITARY:        
First place: Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team
Second place:     Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 23
Third place: VFW-Veterans of Foreign Wars

DIVISION II ~ VEHICLES
Best of Division: Massimillo & Sons Mobile Mechanics

CLUBS
First place: Corvettes of Lake County

CARS & TRUCKS
First place: Massimillo & Sons Mobile Mechanics
Second place: Tie – Bob Lininger, Lakeport; Cadillac Pat Sperling
Third place: Tie – Allen and Donna Thomas; DreamScapes Entertainment
    
DIVISION III ~ GROUPS        
Best of Division: Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team

ORGANIZATION
First place: Operation Tango Mike~Forever Grateful
Second place: Mendo Lake Credit Union
Third place: Patriots Around the Lake~The Summer of 1787

MILITARY
First place: Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team
Second place: Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 23
Third place: VFW-Veterans of America Lake County Chapter 951

COMMERCIAL
First place: Mendo Lake Credit Union

DIVISION V ~ JUNIOR
Best of Division: Cub Scout Pack 142

SPORTS
First place: Lake County Channel Cats

CLUBS/GROUPS
First place: Cub Scout Pack 142
Second place: Royal Rangers Outpost 396 of New Life 4 Square
    
DIVISION VI ~ MUSIC
Best of Division: Clear Lake High School Band

BANDS
First place: Clear Lake High School Band        

DIVISON VIII ~ EQUESTRIAN    
Best of Division: Lonne Sloan

MOUNTED GROUP
First place: Lake County Rodeo Queen & Princess 2011 and 2012 Contestants
Senior Novelty: First place, Lonne Sloan
Senior Plain Western: First place, Kirsten Spraktes

JUNIOR PLAIN WESTERN    
First place: Karly Petta

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The 2012 Lake County Youth Summit will take place on Saturday, June 30.

The free event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at High Valley Ranch in Clearlake Oaks.

A fun day will be planned including team building and youth leadership exercises, and a ropes course.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

To register contact Carrie White or Jim Gessner at 707-994-6494.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) is offering a workshop for concerned parents/caregivers of Lake County youth.

This workshop is for parents/caregivers of youth in the county that are concerned about the use of alcohol and other drugs in our community.

Information will be presented on the effects of substance use in the community and the prevention of substance use with our youth.

The first workshop will be held on Monday, June 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the AODS office in Clearlake at 7000 B South Center Drive.

The second workshop will be held on Friday, June 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 845 Bevins Street, Lakeport.

For more information on the workshops please call Carrie White or Jim Gessner with AODS at 707-994-6494 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Peace Camp will be offered in Lakeport June 18-22 and July 23-27.

Peace Camp offers a one-week summer day camp for kids ages 6 to 12 this year, a half day from noon to 5 p.m.

The camp has a new low price of  $75 per week.

The children enjoy a wonderful week of singing peace songs, creating art projects and swimming each afternoon.

The staff is skilled at creating fun while teaching cooperation and helping them solve problems without fighting.

The group size is small, with many counselors, so the children get a lot of individual attention.

There are no scholarships this year because they lowered the price for everyone.

If you need full day care, the camp is coordinating with Clear Lake High School's soccer camp, which takes place June 18-22, and Vacation Bible School, July 23-27, which are offering programs for the morning during those weeks. The camp can pick up your child from those programs.

Please visit www.peacecamp.com for information, registration forms, contact information, and photos of the program.