On June 21, shareholders re-elected Herman Knevelbaard to his second term.

In addition, Jacqueline Armstrong and Irenia Quitiquit were seated in the remaining two vacant seats.

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North Coast Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) is one of AJR 62’s co-authors. In presenting the measure for last Wednesday’s vote, Wiggins told her colleagues that “AJR 62 urges the National Marine Fisheries Service to delay issuing new permits for long-line fishing, until pending endangered species act studies on the decline of sea turtle populations are completed.

“Long-line fishing for swordfish results in a ‘by-catch’ rate of nearly 50% of other fish and marine animals, such as the threatened and endangered sea turtle,” Wiggins added.

“That is why the Department of Fish and Game and the Coastal Commission have been opposed to a new swordfish fishery, until the Endangered Species Act status and critical habitats of these magnificent sea turtles are established,” Wiggins said. “Unfortunately, the Fisheries Service is poised to move forward with issuing new permits any day now. The endangered leatherback sea turtle has survived for over 100 million years; certainly the Fisheries Service can wait a bit longer for more complete scientific information.”

The Assembly approved AJR 62 on June 9. In his testimony, Assemblyman Leno noted that “these turtles eat jellyfish along the California coast after a 6,000-mile swim from their nesting beaches in Indonesia. Populations of the Pacific Leatherback – a 100-million-year-old species that outlived the dinosaurs – have declined by approximately 95 percent in the last 25 years. Populations of Pacific Loggerheads have declined by more than 80 percent during the same period.

“Long-line fishing for swordfish involves the setting of fishing lines with thousands of hooks, across miles of ocean, and at depths where sea turtles swim,” Leno added. “The catch using this method brings in by weight approximately 50 percent swordfish, and 50 percent other fish, sharks, sea birds, seals, dolphins, other marine mammals, and sea turtles – including the endangered leatherback sea turtle.

“Injury and drowning from interactions with long-line fishing gear targeting swordfish is a direct contributor to these sea turtles’ rapid decline and potential extinction,” Leno said.

AJR 62 urges the National Marine Fisheries Service to delay approval of these new federal swordfish permits until:

• The Pacific Leatherback’s critical habitat is established;

• The Endangered Species Act status of the North Pacific Loggerhead is determined;

• Critical habitat is designated for the loggerhead, should it be up-listed to “endangered” status.

“The Pacific leatherback could become extinct within 10-20 years if existing fishery by-catch rates of these sea turtles are not reduced,” Leno said. “Waiting approximately 18 months until the endangered status and critical habitat are established is simply the prudent thing to do.”

Wiggins represents California’s 2nd Senate District, which includes Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. Visit her Web site at http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.

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What could be more American for a traditional July 4 barbecue than hot dogs and apple pie? The cookout will follow a star-packed show featuring Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, Elton John and many more, all to benefit the Thornton-Canady Community Center and the Li’l Acorns Preschool.

You be the judge! Winners for fan favorite, best new artist, best costume and lifetime achievement award to be chosen by number of $1 audience votes collected for each contestant.

Advance tickets are only $15 each for this musical comedy directed by Kim Young and meal by Mike Beck and Co. For tickets call 350-3590.

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Vector Control (previously mosquito abatement) tested for the little critters, and discovered that the traps caught the largest number of inland floodwater mosquitoes that they had seen in a long time.

This particular mosquito larva is laid in flood ponds, but can hibernate in the dry pond soil For up the three years, then hatches the next time the pond is filled with water. They love to bite humans, and can fly up to five miles to find a victim.

Spring Valley is the only area in Lake County with this problem, so Vector Control began spraying along the roadways very early in the morning (like at 2 a.m.) to try to control the situation.

Their first spraying on June 13 reduced the number in the traps by 50 percent. They may have to spray through August.

The residents are very happy to have some relief from the swarms of mosquitoes that they were dealing with whenever they went outside.

Win Cary lives in Spring Valley.

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The surplus sale for items on the Klamath, Mendocino, Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests will be rescheduled for later this year.

An announcement will be made when the sale is scheduled. For additional information please contact the Mendocino National Forest, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, telephone 530-934-1119.

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