A simple call to 811 before any digging project – by a contractor about to do a large excavation or by a homeowner about to plant a backyard tree – can prevent damage to underground utility equipment and all the problems associated with it, including injuries or outages.

Why is calling 811 important? Because underground electric power lines, gas lines, telecommunication lines, water lines and other essential infrastructure needed for utility services can be within a few feet of the surface.

National statistics show that once every three minutes a utility line is damaged by digging. In PG&E’s service area, about 1,750 dig-ins where contractors or customers struck PG&E lines, were reported in 2012. In more than 1,000 of those instances, a customer or contractor didn’t call 811 before the incident.

This took place throughout PG&E’s service area, which stretches from the Oregon border to Bakersfield. More than 200 dig-ins happened in the Sacramento area, for instance, and 80 took place in the San Jose area.

Reputable, professional contractors are well aware of the need to call 811 to ensure public safety. However, many homeowners aren’t aware that some simple weekend chores, such a planting a tree or digging a post for a new mailbox, also should include a call to 811.

Soil erodes over time, potentially leaving  some utility lines less than a foot below the ground’s surface. And multiple utility lines can be buried very close together – gas, electric, cable and water.

When customers call USA, PG&E and other utilities are notified so they can determine whether or not they have underground facilities at the excavation site. PG&E will either mark the area or notify a customer that the area is clear. The lines will be marked for free.

As a reminder, PG&E only marks its own gas, electric and communication lines. PG&E will typically field mark the horizontal location of gas and electric facilities by painting stripes on surface streets and sidewalks or marking unpaved areas with colored flags. Yellow designates gas lines and red designates electric lines.

Other utility companies will locate and mark their own lines for water, sewer, telecommunications, etc.

Steps to ensure a safe dig

USA is available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for holidays. All utilities have two business days (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to mark and locate their underground lines.

Here are some specific steps for residential and business customers to take.

• Plan the excavation. Calls to 811 can be made up to 14 days in advance. Advanced notice helps utilities schedule their mark and locate resources.
• Call USA at least two working days prior to the start of excavation.
• Determine the limits of the excavation area and mark out the excavation site in white.
• Use hand tools to carefully excavate next to marked underground facilities.
• Respect and maintain the field markings for the duration of the job.
• Extend the USA ticket if your project goes beyond 28 calendar days.

If there is any type of damage to PG&E electric wires, those involved should move to a safe location, call 911 and then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

For more information about USA visit www.call811.com .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Wednesday, March 13.

The group meets at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 14310 Memory Lane in Clearlake from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.  

The groups are sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.  

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Master Gardeners will host a rose pruning and how to workshop on Saturday, March 16, in Lakeport.

The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mendo Mill Home Center & Lumber Co., located at 2465 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Please RSVP by calling 707-263-8400.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Sons of Norway Vikings of Lake Lodge No. 6-166 will hold a St. Patrick’s Day dinner, with a program on the Vikings of Ireland, on Sunday, March 17.

The group will meet at 1 p.m. at the Galilee Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 8860 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.

Dinner will be corned beef and cabbage with all the fixings, plus soda bread and dessert. The cost is $8 per person.

Carl Peter Ingvoldstad will host the program on the Vikings of Ireland.

For more information or to assist with the dinner call Mary Beth Ingvoldstad at 707-580-8052.

Visit the lodge's Web site at http://www.vikingsoflakelodge.org/ .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Last year was a bad year for fires around Lake County. This year, so far, there has not been much rain and vegetation is drying out already, and the South Lake Fire Safe Council is offering assistance to help keep local homes and properties safe.

Firefighters did a fantastic job protecting Lake County last year, and the council said firefighters need community members’ help by making the area fire safe.  This means clearing the area around your house or other structures.  

All dead or dying plants should be removed. Tree branches should be pruned so they are at least 6 feet above the ground and away from other plants or buildings and roofs. Dead leaves or branches should be removed from roofs.  
 
The South Lake Fire Safe Council can help you with other ideas to make your space safer.

One of the things they are doing this year again is offering low-cost chipping to supporting members.   

A $25 supporting membership entitles supporting members to half an hour of chipping. More chipping costs $25 per half hour up to four hours per year.

Chipping is scheduled for March, May, July, September and November this year.
 
Applications for supporting memberships and for chipping are available at the South Lake Fire Station on Highway 175 in Middletown or at their Web site, www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org .
 
Anyone who is interested in attending South Lake Fire Safe Council meeting is welcome to do so. Their meetings are on the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at the fire station on Highway 175 in Middletown. They encourage your participation.  

The fire safe council’s mission is to provide fuel reduction and fire safety education in South Lake County.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County will hold a “Time Bank Orientation Brunch” on Saturday, March 9.

The brunch will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kelseyville Methodist/Unitarian Universalist Church on 3810 Main St. in Kelseyville, across the street from the Saw Shop.

This fun and education event is open to members and potential members of the time bank.

The agenda includes an introduction to the concept of time banking, a time for questions and answers, and an activity designed to get participants started in time banking.

All ages are welcome. Admission is free, and you can earn hours from the time bank from this event in the following ways: One hour will be provided for anybody who brings a breakfast or brunch food item to share with eight other people; one hour will be provided for anybody who brings a friend to the event; one hour will be provided to anyone who stays for the entire event and completes the orientation.

The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County helps Lake County residents get necessary services through allowing the exchange of time instead of cash.

To find out more about the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County or for more information about this event, visit the Thrive Lake County Web site at http://thrivelakecounty.org/time-bank.html , send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 707-413-0220.