The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Mendocino National Forest have maintained a successful partnership for over 24 years, providing funding assistance for the management of off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation on National Forest lands through the California State OHV Cooperative Agreement Program. Current State regulations require annual public participation in this fund allocation process.

The Mendocino National Forest is soliciting public input specific to the Forest’s 2007-08 grant application proposals for Cooperative Agreements with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Division.

The agreements support OHV management activities on the national forest, including facility operation and maintenance, trail maintenance, law enforcement and restoration.

“The Mendocino National Forest has over 252 miles of designated OHV trails and over 1,100 miles of roughly graded roads available for use by non-street legal OHVs,” said Forest Recreation Officer Jack Horner. “We need your comments on our 2007-08 grant requests going in to our partner, the State of California. Your comments will help the state determine the level of funding to provide the Mendocino for trail maintenance, facility maintenance, law enforcement, and restoration projects.”

The draft proposals will be available for review on the forest Web site after June 8. The Web site address is www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino.

Hard copies may be obtained now by contacting Jeff Applegate, OHV Program Manager, Mendocino National Forest, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988, telephone (530) 934-3316.

Please submit comments electronically to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or to the above listed address, no later than July 1.

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On the agenda will be the Flotilla’s activities for National Safe Boating Week.

The Flotilla encourages anyone who is interested in joining the active group to attend the meeting and learn more about the flotilla and how it serves Lake County.

For additional information, please call the Flotilla’s informational number, 278-0553, or Commander Rich Thomas at 987-0418.

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Flotilla 88 members give two Lake County children life jackets. Flotilla members left to right, back row, are: Jack Gerhardt, D.A. Butts, Ed Moore, Chris Ruttan, Rich Thomas and Pati Gerhardt; front row, Betty Strach and Jerry Collins. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – The “Children's Life Jacket Project” was a huge success with 200 children's life jackets handed out to children under the age of 12 accompanied by a parent or guardian.

As part of National Safe Boating Week, May 19-25, Coast Guard Auxiliary Lake County Flotilla 88 will be involved in several safe boating activities in addition to the children's life jacket project. Flotilla members will be at boat ramps offering courtesy vessel safety checks, attending civic functions and undertaking in-house training to sharpen personal skills for the upcoming boating season.

The children's life jacket project is the brainchild of Kelseyville resident Juanita Collins. She was moved to create the project after the drowning of a child five years ago on Clearlake.

In its four years of existence just under 800 children's life jackets have been handed out free of charge.

This year's project would not be possible without the generous monetary contributions from donors, including $1,000 from Clearlake Wal-Mart, donations from the Flotilla 88 special project fund, Jack and Pati Gerhardt, Braito's Marina, Thomas Associates, D.A. and Leona Butts, Jerry and Juanita Collins, Disney Watersports and one anonymous donor.

Many thanks to this year's Flotilla 88 project chairperson Pati Gerhardt, Wal-Mart staff – especially Sports Department Manager Bill Hulse – and Flotilla 88 members and volunteers who staffed the May 19 affair.

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is the civilian volunteer arm of the US Coast Guard and its core mission is recreational boating safety. The US Coast Guard motto is “Semper paratus” – “Always ready.”

For more information on the Coast Guard Auxiliary contact Flotilla Commander Richard Thomas at 489-0466 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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LAKE COUNTY – May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in California. Its goal is raising awareness about the importance of drivers and motorcyclists sharing the road.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) knows that sharing the road with many types of vehicles is necessary for safe highways. Because motorcycles are unlike any other vehicle on the road, they require special considerations.

CHP Commissioner Mike Brown encourages all riders and drivers to practice safe behaviors and share the road.

“Drivers of other vehicles should be courteous and aware of motorcycles around them, especially at intersections. It’s equally important for vehicles to keep a safe distance from motorcycles on the roadway. This allows the operator room to maneuver the motorcycle and avoid road hazards or adverse traffic conditions,” said Commissioner Brown.

There are more than 1.1 million licensed riders in California. Last year, more than 400 motorcyclists were killed and over 10,000 were injured as the result of a collision. Although those are preliminary figures, both represent an increase from 2005.

With a motorcycle, safety accessories are limited to equipment like helmets, jackets, boots and gloves -- not much stands between the rider and serious injury in case of a collision.

“Even as a veteran rider, I know it’s important to take a refresher course and sharpen your skills, especially if you haven’t ridden in awhile,” says Chief Ramona Prieto, who was the CHP’s first female motor officer.

Both motorists and motorcyclists can help create a safer highway environment by staying alert and using common sense and courtesy while on the road.

“Remember, we’re all out here together. Let’s be respectful and mindful of one another,” adds Commissioner Brown.

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