LAKEPORT, Calif. – A fundraiser to benefit the family of Ronnie Dekeyser III will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Color Organics, a salon located at 1775 S. Main St. in Lakeport, will host the benefit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Dekeysers lost their 11-year-old son on Jan. 20 after a long battle with cancer.

The stylists are offering hair services, food and a silent auction. They are soliciting donations from the public in exchange for the services and all proceeds will go to the family.

Drop by and just make a contribution to defray expenses and enjoy some snacks or bid on a silent auction item. There have been many prizes contributed by local businesses for the auction.

Donations also are being taken at Umpqua Bank in Ronnie’s name.

For more information on this event, please call Lynsey at 707-349-2454 or 707-263-1212.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library Peter McRae will present “The Poppies of Mohammed,” his novel about the heroin smuggling trade from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

McRae uses fiction to expose the heroin trade that finances the Taliban and al Qaeda.

While earning his master’s degree in international relations at San Diego State University, McRae became interested in terrorism and he says that “his academic specialty deals with the inability of international law to deal with twenty-first century violent conflict.”

This free program is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

SACRAMENTO – On Jan. 22, the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) installed its 2014 Executive Officers at the Annual Installation and Awards Reception in Sacramento.

Nevada County Supervisor Nate Beason was installed as chair, Sierra County Supervisor Lee Adams was installed as first vice chair and Glenn County Supervisor John Viegas was installed as second vice chair.

The newly elected officers will lead the organization in championing policies on behalf of California’s rural counties.

“It is a privilege to have been selected to lead RCRC’s efforts on behalf of rural California, and I am honored and thankful that my fellow rural county leaders have entrusted me as Chair,” said Supervisor Beason. “This is shaping up to be another challenging year for rural counties, and I look forward to working with my fellow RCRC Board members and RCRC staff on issues impacting our rural communities before policy-makers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.”

 In addition to the installation of officers, RCRC also honored two state legislators with the annual RCRC “Patti Mattingly Award.”

RCRC’s Patti Mattingly Award was established in memory of the former Siskiyou County supervisor, who exhibited tremendous courage, commitment, and the ability to develop and execute constructive solutions surrounding rural issues.

Each year, the RCRC Board of Directors selects two policy makers whom have demonstrated leadership on rural issues, and exhibited a true understanding of the unique challenges that rural communities face.

This year, the Patti Mattingly Award was presented to Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Stanislaus) and Assemblyman Richard Gordon (D-San Mateo).

“Sen. Cannella is always only a phone call away. I have always been able to pick up the phone and share with him a concern of Merced County,” said Merced County Supervisor John Pedrozo. “Each time, he has gone to work immediately to address our County’s concern or need. Furthermore, he has worked across the aisle to do what is in the best interest of the rural counties he represents.”

In addition to Sen. Cannella, Assemblyman Richard Gordon (D-San Mateo) was selected to receive the Patty Mattingly Award for his efforts on behalf of rural counties.

“Assemblyman Gordon’s bipartisan and nonpartisan efforts in the Legislature demonstrate his commitment to the greater good, and he has proven to be a true value to rural communities,” said Beason. “We’re excited to be able to honor his contributions to our member counties, and thank him for his leadership on rural issues as an urban legislator.”

RCRC’s 2013 chair, Mariposa County Supervisor Kevin Cann, will serve as the immediate past chair.

The Rural County Representatives of California is a 34-member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties.

RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the state and federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties.

To learn more about RCRC, visit www.rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mixed martial arts is coming to Konocti Vista Casino on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Presented by Jameson’s Gym in Lakeport,” The Night of the Warriors VI“ features a lightweight tournament and both professional and amateur mixed martial arts matches.

Sanctioned by the International Fighting Council, the “Night of the Warriors” tournaments has produced some big name fighters including Gilbert Melendez and Josh Koscheck.

The next lightweight superstar could come to rise right here in Lake County at the Konocti Vista Casino on Feb. 8.

“Night of the Warriors VI” local Lake County competitors include: John O’Donnell, Keith Campbell, and Anthony Fernandez from Jameson’s Gym in Lakeport, Matt Weimar from Weimars Elite Cage Alliance in Lakeport and Jeremy Bryant from Lucerne.

Out of county competitors include Joaquin Lopez and Carlos Thompson from the Mendocino Training Center in Ukiah and Mike Martucci also from Ukiah.

Other professional and amateur fighters will be coming from all over Northern California.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the action begins at 6 p.m.

Tickets to the “Night of the Warriors VI” event are available at the Konocti Vista Casino players club, by calling the casino at 707-262-1900 X1118 or by calling Aaron Jameson at 707-245-5682.

Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.

To stay up to date on local mixed martial arts action, visit www.jamesonsgym.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its Regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6.
 
The monthly meeting will take place in Lakeport at 1210 S. Main St. at 6 p.m.
 
The meeting's guest speaker will be Dan Wolk, who is running for the Assembly District 4 seat now held by Mariko Yamada, who is being termed out. His Web site is www.danwolk.org .
 
Please come and get to know this candidate, his positions on issues that you care about, let him know your concerns and ask questions.
 
Other candidates for Assembly District 4 are Joe Krovoza, mayor of Davis, www.joekrovoza.org ; Matt Pope, who currently works for State Sen. Noreen Evans, www.pope2014.com ; and Bill Dodd, Napa County supervisor, www.billdodd.com .
 
The club also will seek public feedback to the initiatives on the local ballot in June, including the county's marijuana grow ordinance, proposed as a guide to enforcement in order to eliminate or at least reduce complaints and protect communities;  the mobile home park rent control initiative, proposed by “Save Our Seniors” as a way to keep seniors on fixed incomes from being priced out of their homes; and the 0.5 percent “Healthy Lake Tax” Ordinance (Measure L) proposed by the Board of Supervisors to be used for water quality and invasives prevention efforts in local lakes and tributaries.

For more information on the ordinances and initiatives visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org .
 
The agenda for the February meeting also includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and State Sen. Noreen Evans, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair Mark Wickhamshire and representative from the Lake County Democratic Club Paula Mune.
 
Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
 
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Democratic party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – University of California Master Gardeners of Lake County will present a rose pruning workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The workshop begins at 10 a.m. in Upper Lake.

Master Gardener Jim Harrell will discuss and demonstrate pruning and other cultural practices that help produce large, healthy rose displays.

Although not a planned portion of the workshop, participants should bring heavy gloves and pruning shears in case hands-on practice is available.

A $5 donation is encouraged to help defray expenses for handouts that will be available.
 
For workshop location and to RSVP, please call 707-263-6838.
 
Master Gardeners are a group of selected, trained residents who work as volunteer staff for the U.C. Cooperative Extension.

Master Gardeners provide accurate horticultural information on vegetable gardening, trees, soils, lawns, ornamental horticulture, insects, diseases, use of pesticides, and other related topics based on research of the University of California and other recognized research institutions.