On the left, quilter Holly Thompson of Hidden Valley Lake and Fortuna donated four handmade quilts from Eel River Quilt Guild in Fortuna and Big Moonstone Quilters Guild in McKinleyville to Penny Lunt, president of the Republican Women Federated, for the club's charity, Iraq*Star providing special plastic surgery for our returning soldiers. For information e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Photo by Janeane Bogner.

KELSEYVILLE – Lake County Republican Women Federated's next luncheon meeting will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

The meeting will take place at Zino's Ristorante & Inn, 6330 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.

Social time begins at 11 a.m., with the meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is at noon.

This month's guest speaker comes from Marin. Jan Miller is co-founder with Jane Alexander of Citizens Against Homicide. Alexander passed away last December.

The two women spoke to the group a number of years ago, shortly after Alexander's book, “Citizen Jane,” came out.

They came to Lake County to arrange for a large billboard to help law enforcement find the person who killed an elderly couple in the Nice/Lucerne area. Thanks to there efforts the crime was solved.

They feature a monthly "Victim's Profile' in their newsletter. The Barbara LaForge murder in Lakeport was featured.

They list parole board information, help family members keep murderers in jail, and offer guidance through the complicated criminal justice system including trial and courtroom support.

Alexander's story is scheduled for a TV movie sometime this September.

Come and find out all the other things, too numerous to list here, that CAH does. Perhaps there is something you can do to help.

For reservations call group treasurer Janeane Bogner, 707-998-3280. Non-members and both men and women are welcome.

To join e-mail President Penny Lunt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The senior center serves breakfast from 9 a.m. until noon.

The public is invited. Membership in the Lake County Democratic Club is open to registered members of the Democratic Party.

The senior center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10^th and Country Club) in Lucerne.

Contact the club at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-277-0713.

Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal fires or stoves are prohibited on the National Forest unless in the following designated recreation sites:

Grindstone Ranger District – Red Bluff Recreation Area and Big Springs Day Use Area; Whitlock, Kingsley Glade, Sugarfoot Glade, Three Prong, Wells Cabin, Sugar Springs, Letts Lake, Mill Valley, Dixie Glade, Plaskett Meadows, Masterson, Little Stony, Grey Pine, Fouts Springs, Davis Flat, South Fork, Cedar Camp, Mill Creek, North Fork and Old Mill Campgrounds.

Upper Lake Ranger District – Fuller Grove, Fuller Group Camp, Navy Camp, Pogie Point, Oak Flat, Sunset, Middle Creek, Deer Valley, Bear Creek, Penny Pines and Lower Nye Campgrounds.

Covelo Ranger District – Eel River, Little Doe, Howard Lake and Hammerhorn Lake Campgrounds.

California Campfire Permits are not needed in the designated recreation sites listed. In all other areas of the Forest, lanterns or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel with be allowed as long as the person has a current California Campfire Permit with them.

California Campfire Permits may be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or Cal Fire office in California, as well as most Forest Service field employees. They may also be obtained online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/passespermits .

The following activities are also prohibited as part of the fire restrictions:

• Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or in the designated recreation sites listed above;

• Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame;

• Using explosives;

• Possessing, discharging or using any kind of fireworks.

Forest visitors will be able to continue riding Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) on designated roads and trails, provided that the vehicles are equipped with the required spark arresters.

Spark arresters are also required on chainsaws being used for people filling valid personal use wood cutting permits, and may also only be used on designated roads and trails.

“This summer the Mendocino National Forest has been very fortunate when it comes to wildland fire,” said Forest Supervisor Tom Contreras. “We would like Forest visitors to help us continue this by being safe when using fires in designated areas, complying with these fire restrictions and reporting smoke when they see it. By being aware we can all help protect the Forest’s resources from human-cased wildfires.”

Temporary fire restrictions are put in place annually to protect natural resources and limit the threat of human-caused wildfires. Similar restrictions are going into effect on neighboring forests. However, restrictions can vary by forest and visitors should check with the forest they plan on visiting for the latest fire restrictions and conditions.

For the Mendocino National Forest, the fire restrictions are formally referenced through Order Number 08-09-01.

Violation of these fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.

Fire season typically ends in late fall following a series of drenching, measurable rains in the mountains. An announcement will follow when fire restrictions are lifted.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino .

Firefighters will hold two “Fill the Boot” fundraisers at the following locations:

• Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in St. Helena, Yountville and Napa;

• Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Middletown (downtown and at Twin Pine Casino);

• Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Sebastopol, Cloverdale, Sonoma and Guerneville.

The last two locations will be in Lakeport and Brooks with date and times to be announced.

Local firefighters are asking local residents to come out and help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Jerry’s Kids.

Each dollar dropped into a firefighter’s boot will go to support local MDA services: research for neuromuscular diseases, the clinic at UC Davis, summer camps and community education.

The MDA does not receive funding from state, federal or local governments, nor does it seek or receive fees for services.

The fire service as a whole has been a long running supporter of the MDA. Its history began in 1952 when the father of a child who was burdened with a neuromuscular disease, in desperation, sought the aid of George Graney, IAFF Local 718 member and the help of the Boston Fire Company.

Immediately, 20 firefighters set out to conduct a door-to-door canister drive that raised $5,000 to help with the child’s medical expenses. In August of 1954, Graney spoke at the IAFF’s (International’s Association of Fire Fighters) biannual convention and proposed that MDA be established as the International’s “charity of choice”. He gained unanimous approval and this marked the beginning of a formal bond between IAFF and MDA.

Cal Fire took on the challenge to support Jerry’s Kids in 2008, statewide. This is CAL FIRE’s second year of involvement with the “Fill the Boot “fundraisers for MDA and we will continue to do so until there is no need for fundraisers.

The Soda Bay Road/South Main Street intersection – near the Highway 29 and Highway 175 traffic lights – will be subject to single-lane traffic control between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, and Thursday, Aug. 6.

Fifteen-minute maximum delays can be expected.

The off-ramp and turn pockets from Highway 29 and Highway 175 to this intersection will be closed to all traffic during construction hours.

Highway traffic will need to use Highland Springs Road or Lakeport Boulevard to access Soda Bay Road/South Main Street during this time.

Signs and barriers will be in place to notify the public of the need to use alternate routes.

The Department of Public Works thanks the community in advance for its patience and understanding.

Please drive with caution in this area.

For more information call the Department of Public Works, 707-263-2341.