KELSEYVILLE – Five Lake County students who are succeeding despite a variety of obstacles were honored recently by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Lake Charter.

The Every Student Succeeding honorees of 2012 are Jacob Blue of Clear Lake High School, Leticia Bowman of Carlé Continuation High School, Amber Marga of Upper Lake High School, Jordan Marquardt of Middletown Unified School District, and Neira Meciel-Jimenez of Natural High School.

ACSA Lake Charter President Korby Olson, superintendent of Middletown Unified School District, introduced the students and presented them with award certificates on the evening of March 29.

In addition, each student received a gift bag from the Mendo Lake Credit Union, sponsor of the Every Student Succeeding Program. ACSA annually recognizes students who are nominated for their achievements after facing barriers through their lives, Olson said.

Honorees, parents, friends, school superintendents, counselors, principals and instructors attended the presentation program at Kelseyville High School. Jacob Gill, a Middletown High School student, played acoustical guitar prior to the presentations and while attendees enjoyed dinner prepared by Michelle Malm, Kelseyville Unified School District’s director of food services.

School representatives who accompanied the students spoke of the teens’ accomplishments and abilities to overcome hardships.

Middletown High School Principal Bill Roderick told attendees that Jordan Marquardt has shown tremendous growth in communication with peers, staff and faculty since coming into the school district.

He plays basketball for Special Olympics and takes Karate. “He is a part of our culture on campus,” Roderick said while congratulating Marquardt.

Natural High School instructor Dave Hagberg praised Neira Meciel-Jimenez for initiating a turnaround in her attendance and academics.

Stating that the teen is a “pleasure to teach,” Hagberg said she “shines” as an aid in Irene Lopez’s Special Day Class at Lakeport Elementary School. “Neira has a remarkable ability to connect with the kids,” Hagberg added.

Amber Marga came to Upper Lake High as a junior last year, school Counselor Karen Riordan told the group. Prior to her move to Lake County from Oregon, Marga’s life had been somewhat unstable. “She has done very well” despite it, said Riordan, who noted that Marga now has a 3.67 grade point average and has been accepted at all three of the universities to which she has applied. “Amber is resilient, successful, and very determined,” said Riordan.

Verna Rogers, English and Careers class teacher at Carlé Continuation School, congratulated Leticia Bowman, “Leti” as she is known at school.

Describing her as a “hard worker and awesome student,” Rogers said Bowman has overcome many obstacles and “always has a smile on her face.”

Konocti Unified School District Superintendent Bill MacDougall said Bowman has been his “right-hand” at every community service event he has been involved in the last two years. “She is dedicated, tenacious, and charming – a true success,” said MacDougall.

Jacob Blue has “put himself on the right track” for completing his education, Clear Lake High School Principal Steve Gentry said.

Blue has received encouragement from his cross country coach, Peter Stanley, his teachers at Clear Lake High, and counselor Paul Larrea, who also attended the ceremony.

However, Blue deserves the credit for his success, said Gentry. He came to high school in Lakeport when he enrolled as a senior in August last year. He previously had attended several schools and said he had an “attitude adjustment” while going to Unicorn School in Mendocino County.

The “positive young man” now carries a 4.0 grade point average, is active as a recording technician for the concert band, and was on the school’s Academic Decathlon team.

For more information about ACSA’s Every Student Succeeding Program, contact Olson at the Middletown Unified School District office, 707-987-4100.

The program’s sponsor, Mendo Lake Credit Union, is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. It has branches in Fort Bragg, Ukiah, Lakeport and Clearlake.

Additional information is available on the credit union’s Web site, www.mlcu.org , or by calling 707-468-0161.

In 2010, traffic fatalities in California declined to their lowest level since 1944, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

From a peak of 5,504 in 1987, fatalities fell to 2,715 in 2010, the agency reported.

Caltrans is attributing part of the success in lowering the fatality rate to safety improvements it has implemented on highways statewide along with safety programs such as Slow for the Cone Zone and Safe Routes to Schools.

“We are committed to saving lives along the state’s highways and roads,” said acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Safety is our top priority and an essential component of every one of our projects.”

A focal point of California’s highway safety efforts is the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), created in 2006 to address a broad range of important traffic safety issues.

Caltrans partnered with the California Highway Patrol, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the Department of Motor Vehicles, and other federal, state and local agencies to develop the plan.

In 2009, Caltrans received a National Roadway Safety Award from the U.S. Department of Transportation for its outstanding work on the SHSP.

Continuing its commitment to SHSP goals, in 2011 Caltrans awarded 80 safety improvement projects worth about $140 million – upgrades such as installing left turn lanes, improving traffic signal timing, realigning roads, and paving highways with permeable asphalt to absorb rain water to reduce crashes on slickened highways.

Last year, Caltrans awarded $66 million to cities, counties and regional agencies for 139 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects to improve safety for students in grades K-8 who walk and bicycle to and from school.

In addition to the federal SRTS program, the state Safe Routes to School Program funded 85 projects for $24 million in October 2010. Since 2000, the state and federal programs have awarded more than 1,200 projects for approximately $420 million.

Caltrans also made strides toward making highways and local streets safer through its Slow for the Cone Zone public awareness campaign launched in 1999. California work zone fatalities declined 63.4 percent from 1999 to 2010, compared to a drop of just 37.4 percent nationally.

In addition, Caltrans developed the Highway Safety Improvement Program Application and Evaluation Tool for Local Roadways that allowed local transportation agencies to set priorities for safety projects.

The application identifies projects that offer the greatest potential of reducing fatalities and injuries on California’s local roads. These projects will save lives and provide a projected $743 million in safety
benefits as a result of fewer vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities on local roads, according to the Caltrans Division of Local Assistance, which used the evaluation tool to project future savings.

Last year, Caltrans and its partners launched a campaign to educate the public about the importance of moving over a lane or slowing down for Caltrans, law enforcement, tow trucks and other emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights.

A 2011 traffic survey conducted after the campaign by the OTS found that 92.5 percent of drivers surveyed said they were aware of the Move Over law.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – He's playful, young and eager to be your new best friend.

Estimated to be about 8 months old, this male blue heeler-border collie mix is a sweet and fun little dog.

He has a very soft black and tan coat, weighs just under 35 pounds and has been neutered.

One of his favorite activities is running and playing in the yard. Shelter staff said he really likes playing with other dogs.

Find him in kennel No. 7, ID No. 32009.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Tall, dark and handsome, industrious, loves the outdoors.

That describes “Ike,” a 6-year-old male German Shepherd mix who is up for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Ike is personable, gets along with other dogs and has lived around horses. He weighs about 79 pounds.

He plays a mean game of fetch – he even catches tennis balls in mid air – and shelter staff believes he would make a great family pet.

Find Ike in kennel No. 11, ID No. 32187.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – In a positive step toward keeping Anderson Marsh State Historic Park open, the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association has received preliminary approval from the California Parks Department to take over the park's operation.

Anderson Marsh is one of 70 state parks slated for closure July 1. AMIA has been working for several months to negotiate an agreement with the state to operate the park, and is postponing its September bluegrass festival until 2013 to devote its energies to the negotiations.

The group reported Tuesday that it's excited about the development, which it called “a big step forward on the path” to keeping the park open.

AMIA reported that the next steps are to negotiate the actual contract terms and to get the final approval for the agreement from the state.

Under the terms of the proposed operating agreement, AMIA would operate the Anderson Marsh for the next three years.

The group said the hope is that by then the state will be able to figure out a way to properly fund the state parks so that these stop-gap nonprofit operating agreements no longer will be needed.

Under the proposed agreement, AMIA will continue to perform the tasks that it currently does, including opening the park gates during daylight hours on Saturday and Sunday, interpretive nature walks and ranch house tours led by AMIA volunteer docents, hosting senior and student field trips to the park and conducting other interpretive events led by AMIA volunteers.

In addition, AMIA will take over responsibility for maintaining the trail system for use by the public, for contracting for refuse, toilet and utility services and for performing grounds-keeping, housekeeping and maintenance as required. Plans also include offering kayak tours of Anderson Marsh.

The California Parks Department will continue to maintain authority and responsibility for the stewardship and management of natural, cultural and historic resources, including American Indian artifacts found at the park.

State Parks also will continue to be responsible for law enforcement at the park, with periodic patrols and response to calls for assistance as required.

AMIA is in the middle of its fundraising drive to raise the money necessary to operate the parks for the next three years. The group reported that many generous individuals and groups have donated to the cause, some of them also pledging to make the same donation for the second and third year of operations.

In addition to monetary support, AMIA needs volunteers to help with running the park, including trail clearing, maintenance and many other activities. They also need help with staffing tables and booths at various county events so they can get the word out about their efforts to keep Anderson Marsh open.

To help visit AMIA's Web site at www.andersonmarsh.org .

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has completed its 2012 yearling bear release program by returning six orphaned cubs to the wild where they were born.

The cubs were found in various locations around the state in the summer months of 2011 and were rehabilitated at a licensed care facility in Lake Tahoe prior to being judged ready to return to the wild.

All six cubs – four males and two females – were in distress and weighed between 15 to 30 pounds when found.

Two brother cubs that were found by hikers in the Fresno area had lost their mother to the arrow of a poacher, while another cub was found bawling in a farmer’s pear tree in San Luis Obispo.

The others were victims of some other unfortunate circumstance.

“One of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had at DFG is to return a bear back into its environment and live the way natured intended it,” DFG Bear Program Coordinator Marc Kenyon said. “The bear rehabilitation program at Lake Tahoe is completely funded by generous donations and passionate volunteers. Our hope is that we can take learnings from facilities like this and keep bears from becoming public nuisances.”

To be eligible for rehabilitation, a cub must still be dependent upon its mother and not habituated. DFG works with the non-profit Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) organization – the only licensed bear program in California to rehabilitate qualified cubs.

At the facility, cubs learn how forage for real bear food such as berries, acorns, fish, grubs and insects. Human contact is kept to a minimum or is nonexistent.

When the yearling bears leave, each has tripled its size or more. Most weigh from 45 to 80 pounds, depending upon their body type and the condition they arrived in.

“Our hope is that these cubs will wake up to bountiful buffet of spring food and become productive members of California’s thriving bear population,” Kenyon said. "Regardless if it's six bears or 30,000, every bear in California is important."

Upon release, each cub is given a final health check up which includes taking hair and blood samples, and is fitted with a radio transmitter to track its movements for the next year.

Yearlings are placed in man-made dens with bedding used from the LTWC to give them some familiarity.

In most circumstances, DFG recommends that people leave wildlife alone, including removing attractants from their properties. If this is not an option, DFG should be contacted.

For more information, see www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/ .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Wednesday night fire damaged a home in the Keys area of Clearlake Oaks.

The home, located in the 13000 block of Flying Jib Court, was reported to be on fire shortly before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to radio reports.

Northshore Fire Protection District responded, as did Lake County Fire Protection on mutual aid, Battalion Chief Steve Hart told Lake County News.

The fire was contained just before 9:45 p.m., with minimal damage to the nearby homes, according to radio reports.

Hart said the fire damaged about 50 percent of the Flying Jib Court home.

Neither the home’s residents nor any firefighters were injured, said Hart.

Hart had called for Red Cross to assist the residents, who were displaced from the home, but they said they didn’t need the group’s assistance.

The last firefighters reported clearing the scene after midnight Thursday morning.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Thanks to the work of community members of all ages, Riviera Elementary School has a new swing set for its students.

The new swing set was installed on Saturday, March 24.

Even in the rain, the swing set installation was reported to be a rewarding event, according to the Riviera Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.

The parents who showed up in the rain to construct the swing set and shovel the 80 yards of engineered cedar chips will long be rewarded as the children at Riviera Elementary will enjoy this playground equipment for many years to come, the group said.

Teachers, parents, children and community members have wanted to see a swing set installed for the first through fifth graders for a very long time, the group reported, adding that it's proud to have the opportunity to provide such a wonderful addition to the school.

The group thanked all those who contributed to raising the funds and donating the resources for the new Riviera Elementary School swing set.

For the past year the PTO has been raising funds to purchase the nearly $7,500 swing set and ground materials.  

PTO Vice President Pilar White spearheaded the swing set project. Her hard work was credited with realizing the goal of providing the new playground equipment for the school's children.

For more information on how businesses and individual members of the community can help with upcoming events at the Riviera Elementary School, contact PTO President Cherie DeChaine at 707-277-6050.