CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Friday, May 12, Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College hosted its inaugural awards banquet at the Cornelison Event Center.

The event was organized to celebrate student achievements and scholarship recipients.

In all, 55 students received an award or a scholarship. Some students received multiple awards or scholarships.

The event started with dinner served by the Culinary Arts department of the Lake County Campus. It consisted of tri-tip, potatoes, stir-fried vegetables, and delicious tiramisu dessert embedded in a chocolate-shaped teacup.

Executive Dean Annette Lee along with Woodland Community College President Dr. Michael White presented opening remarks, welcomed all attendees, and felt honored to share the day with students who have achieved so much and excelled in their educational journey.

Rachel Black, a Woodland Community College student, shared with the audience a moving speech about her life experience. Throughout her life, she has overcome many obstacles and related how much her college experience has meant to her.

Many of the scholarships awarded during the night came from Woodland Community College scholarships. However, some community groups offered their own scholarships to students.

Lake County Retired Teachers’ Association, Clearlake Rotary and the Park Study Club shared their support of education by awarding scholarships to students of Lake County Campus.

“It was such a lovely evening with such a broad cross section of our campus being celebrated. From our incoming high school students, to continuing students, to soon-to-be graduates, every step was celebrated tonight because each step is important for our students to feel successful,” said Ingrid Larsen, the event coordinator.

The evening would not have been complete without the generosity of the community.

Thanks was given to Konocti Unified School District and the Konocti Education Center for the use of their facility, Sysco for donating food for the banquet and Walmart for donating floral decorations to enhance the beauty of the venue.

Lake County Campus is proud of their students and their achievements. Many students will be graduating on May 26. The public is invited to celebrate with our students as they obtain their certificates or degrees.

For more information about Lake County Campus, visit the campus at 15880 Dam Road Extension, call 707-995-7900 or find the college online at http://lcc.yccd.edu .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest is hosting a community conversation on the development of the Black Butte River and Cold Creek Comprehensive River Management Plan, or CRMP.

The community conversation will be held at the Willits City Hall, 111 E. Commercial St., on Tuesday, June 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

At the community conversation, the public will receive information about key requirements of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 and points on the Black Butte River designation, have discussions with natural resource specialists and be given an opportunity to provide input on the CRMP.

Public participation during the development of the CRMP will help determine how best to manage the river into the future.

The Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (PL 109-362) of 2006 designated the Black Butte and Cold Creek as Wild and Scenic River Segments.

A CRMP is required by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 for each segment to provide for the protection of the river values.

The CRMP will focus on protecting the river’s free-flowing condition and water quality as well as the outstanding remarkable values and classification for which the river was designated.

Details are available on the project Web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50351 .

Questions may be directed to the project lead, Hilda Kwan, district hydrologist, 10025 Elk Mountain Rd., Upper Lake, CA 95458, 707-275-1413, or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) tested and confirmed that nacho cheese sauce that was sold at a gas station in Sacramento County has tested positive for the toxin that causes botulism.

The toxin found in the cheese sauce is the same type identified in patients for whom CDPH has results.

CDPH has received reports of 10 cases of botulism linked to this outbreak, and has learned that one patient has died. The nacho cheese sauce was removed from sale on May 5. CDPH believes there is no continuing risk to the public.

“While there are still unanswered questions about this outbreak, these tragic illnesses are important reminders to be vigilant about food safety,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “As we head into the summer barbecue season, both indoor and outdoor chefs need to be on guard against all foodborne illnesses.”

Botulism cases are reported to CDPH so that appropriate action can be taken to protect public health.

For botulism and other foodborne diseases, CDPH and local public health departments receive case reports, conduct investigations to determine possible sources of exposure, test laboratory specimens to identify and link foodborne illnesses, take action to ensure food items that pose a risk to public health are no longer available, provide information to the public about how to prevent disease, and publish data about overall disease trends and risks.

For foodborne diseases, CDPH does not track patient conditions or outcomes. To protect patient privacy, CDPH is not sharing information about the patients affected in this botulism outbreak, their conditions or the four counties that have reported cases.

CDPH and local health departments have notified health care providers to be aware of the symptoms of botulism, including:

· Double or blurred vision;

· Drooping eyelids;

· Slurred speech;

· Difficulty swallowing;

· Dry mouth;

· Muscle weakness.

People experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care provider immediately.

Foodborne botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Botulism can be treated with antitoxin and supportive care, often in an intensive care unit. Botulism is fatal in about 5 percent of cases.

The toxin that causes botulism can be found in foods that are not properly processed or stored. It is odorless and colorless, so it is not possible to tell if a product is contaminated just by looking at it.

In the kitchen or at your backyard grill, simple steps can prevent many types of foodborne illnesses, including:

·  Cook - Make sure foods are cooked to the right temperature.

·  Clean - Wash hands and surfaces often.

· Chill - Refrigerate foods properly.

·  Separate - Separate raw meats from other foods.

Consumers can find more food-safety information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site. Botulism information and data can be found on the CDPH website and the CDC Web site.

SACRAMENTO – On Monday, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones convened 63 insurance-related stakeholders to make sure they have time to comment on cannabis-related regulations with insurance provisions currently under consideration by other state agencies.
 
"As insurance commissioner, my goal to make sure all Californians, including emerging cannabis businesses, have insurance protection," said Commissioner Jones. "The department has an important role to play as new industries emerge and the market adapts to meet the changing needs of all insurance consumers."
 
Jones is working to identify ways in which the department may help the insurance and cannabis industries by providing insurance-related regulatory guidance and resources.
 
California has recently grappled with insurance requirements for other emerging industries - notably ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft and autonomous vehicles.

With so many agencies working to develop regulations and oversight on the emerging cannabis market, the Department of Insurance has found it useful to inform insurance stakeholders about the insurance-related provisions under consideration by other state agencies, and provide stakeholders with details about how to formally comment on those proposed regulations.
 
"Cannabis businesses need to insure property, crops, vehicles and employees, just like any other business. They have the same insurance needs," Jones added.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch will meet on Wednesday, May 24.

The group will meet at 3:30 p.m. at the Lake County Agriculture Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

Check the latest meeting minutes at http://lakelive.info/chicouncil/pdffiles4.26.17minutes.pdf .

As fire season heats up across the country, a group of more than 1,000 wives and girlfriends of wildland firefighters have stepped up to raise money for those who are injured on the job with a virtual 5k run/walk.

Show your support for the men and women who battle the fires that threaten America’s natural resources and communities by participating in the Holding the Line 5k Run/Walk.

This virtual event is open to participants of any age and ability, located anywhere in the United States. All you need a sturdy pair of running shoes or walking shoes and the desire to give back to the brave men and women who hold the line to protect others.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event will go to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation's Fallen and Injured Grant Fund.

To participate, visit https://epicraces.com/events/holding-the-line/ by June 10, head to your chosen venue for your Holding the Line 5k run/walk, start and finish your race, and share your results on social media with the hashtag #holdingtheline5k to spread awareness and celebrate your accomplishment.

The Holding the Line 5K Run/Walk is hosted by Spouses and Partners of Wildland Firefighters, an online community who are dedicated to supporting other spouses and partners of wildland firefighters.

Since the group’s beginning in 2012, its members have worked closely with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation to raise funds to support the foundation's mission.

Are you a wife or serious girlfriend of a wildland firefighter? Join the community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/spousesandpartnersofwff/ . You’ll also find the Spouses and Partners of Wildland Firefighters on Instagram and Twitter at @spofwff and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/holdingthelineathome/ .

The main focus of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families.

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation honors and acknowledge past, present, and future members of the wildland firefighting community and partners with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters.

For more information about the Wildland Firefighter Foundation or to contribute monetarily, please visit http://wffoundation.org .

NAPA, Calif. – Napa County roads crews and contractor Argonaut Constructors will be repaving two-miles of Silverado Trail from the St. Helena city limits to the intersection of Zinfandel Lane.

Construction is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through July 28.

Construction will be in two phases – from May 22 to May 26 and again from June 6 to July 28 to accommodate heavier traffic during Memorial Day weekend and Auction Napa Valley.

A two-inch layer of asphalt will be applied over the existing roadway to restore the road to a “like new” condition.

The road will be open to travel at all times during construction. However, there will be periods of time where traffic is limited to one-way travel with a flagperson at either end of the roadway, resulting in delays. The school district’s transportation office has been notified of the project so students can still safely get to and from home.

Despite everyone’s best efforts, there will be impacts and the best way to avoid being inconvenienced by this project is to avoid the area. Motorists should seek alternate routes during construction or allow for more travel time between destinations.

For more information, please call the project hotline number at 707-253-4351 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .