LAKEPORT, Calif. – People Services Inc. held its annual Chicken-Que and auction fundraiser last Saturday, June 1, at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

People Services is the second largest employment industry in Lake County and serves the disabled adult community with employment as well as services on site at its locations in Lakeport and Clearlake.

Odds are, if you have hired any type of landscape services they were from People Services. They have a large landscaping business – with both residential and commercial accounts – that employs the organization's clients.

People Services also has two major thrift stores, one on Main Street in downtown Lakeport and the other in Clearlake on Lakeshore Drive.

People Services also provides a day service activities program for disabled adults.

The annual chicken barbecue raises money to help augment the small amount of government funding the state provides for the organization's much-needed programs throughout the rest of the year.

The popular Lake County Diamonds came and provided music with a jam session for the event.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit will conduct a control burn in Pope Valley in Napa County on Monday, June 10.

The prescribed control burn will be located at Snell Valley Road, approximately two miles east of Butts Canyon Road.

The scheduled time for the control burn is between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Prescribed vegetation management burns are carefully planned and controlled burns that must meet strict criteria of ecological benefit, weather parameters, smoke management and fire safety guidelines.

When all conditions (prescriptions) are met, trained wild land firefighters burn while monitoring the set criteria, fire behavior and designated fire control lines.  

The benefits of low intensity fire in the natural environment are as follows:

• Cleansing of the wild land debris. Excessive dead and down branches, brush and small trees are burned converting fuels that are hazards in the summer into rich soil nutrients for larger species of vegetation.
• Providing habitat. Removal of decadent fuel encourages the growth of seasonal grasses and leafier plants which affords highly nutritional food and habitat to a wider range of animals.
• Killing disease. Low intensity fire helps eliminate and control diseased plants and trees.
• New growth. Controlled burning encourages the healthy growth of new plants, especially those fire dependent for renewal or seed dispersion.
• Reduces opportunity for destructive fires. Prescribed controlled burns decrease the size and frequency of large uncontrolled destructive wildfires. Prescribed burns are safer for firefighters and area residents.

For more information about fire safety or prescribed fire and its benefits visit the Cal Fire Web site, www.fire.ca.gov , or call your local Cal Fire facility.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 53

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.
 
Highway 175

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs at Matthews Road through Friday, June 7. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Paving from Curley Lane to Pacific View Drive will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– North Gualala Water Company has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.2 mile north of Fish Rock Road beginning Monday, June 10. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Golden State Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Green Right O'Way Constructors of Willits.

– Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at the Wages Creek Bridge will continue Wednesday, June 12. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Hardy Creek Bridge to the Georgia Pacific Picnic Area. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Shasta Construction of Redding.
 
Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Bridge rehabilitation at various locations from the "green" Russian River Bridge to the Route 20/101 interchange will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. At the Russian River Bridge, one way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. At other locations, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel, and motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

– Vegetation removal just south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. A shoulder closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.  Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.  

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.
 
– Vegetation removal from 0.4 miles north of Casteel Lane to the North Willits Railroad Crossing will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Ash Creek Bridge will begin Monday, June 10. Nighttime hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.
 
Highway 128

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Navarro Ridge Road to the Robinson Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Highway 162

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the junction or Routes 101/162 to Eberle Street will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Highway 253

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Singley Cattlepass to the Robinson Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.
 
Highway 271

– Kiwanis of the Redwoods of Redway has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the Redwood Run motorcycle rally from Friday, June 7, to Monday, June 10. Route 271 from the Reynolds Overcrossing to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will be restricted to local traffic only. LC#P271DA

Work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

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 above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Food Pantry is sponsoring a “stuff a truck” fundraiser during Kelseyville's Kickin' It In The Country monthly celebrations, beginning Thursday, June 20, and continuing the third Thursday of each month during the summer.
 
Bring a bag or some cans of nonperishable food items and help support the efforts of the Kelseyville Food Pantry.

All donations stay within the Kelseyville area. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted as well.

For more information, call 707-279-1104.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The commencement ceremony for the Kelseyville High School class of 2013, which takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, June 14, will include a fireworks display.

The fireworks display will take place at or about 9:20 p.m. at the Kelseyville High School football field.

This activity has been a tradition since 2000. The actual display will last an estimated five minutes, however residents are advised to take the necessary precautions with pets that might be sensitive to noise.

Kelseyville High School has worked with local law enforcement and fire agencies and has taken the necessary steps to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for all.

This event has been paid for through the fundraising efforts of the class of 2013.

For more information, call Kelseyville High School at 707-279-4923.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County Public Services' Parks Division is immediately seeking applicants for one lead lifeguard and one lifeguard for the Middletown Pool for the summer season.

The pool summer season is tentatively scheduled to run from June 12 to Aug. 11. However, if lifeguards are not in place, it will delay the pool's opening.

Special requirements include the possession of a current lifeguard certificate, community cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate (8 hours), standard first aid certificate (8 hours) and emergency medical service authority certificate (8 hours) or the acquisition of an EMSA certificate prior to June 1.

Lifeguard applicants must be at least 15 years of age or older. Special requirements for the lead lifeguard applicants are to be at least 17 years of age or older and possession of a Water Safety Instructor Certification is preferred.

All qualified individuals who are interested in becoming a lifeguard for the Middletown Pool this summer are encouraged to call 707-262-1618 or to visit the Public Services Department at 333 Second St. in Lakeport to apply.