SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Mike McGuire has introduced legislation that significantly restricts pharmaceutical companies from giving incentives and gifts to medical professionals – a practice that has been widespread in California and throughout the United States.

This practice has proven to result in medical professionals prescribing expensive and over-priced prescription drugs to their patients.

In recent years, California has begun to fall behind on safeguards relating to limiting pharma gifts and incentives.

Eight other states and the District of Columbia, along with California’s largest hospitals such as Kaiser, the University of California Medical Centers, and Stanford have implemented policies restricting or outright banning pharma gifts to doctors.

But, data shows that California physicians, in 2014, received the highest number of gifts and payments from pharmaceutical companies of any state – at $1.44 billion.

While the vast majority of physicians put the needs of their patients first, growing evidence clearly suggests that there is a direct correlation between gifts and incentives provided by the pharmaceutical industry and prescribing patterns of brand name drugs.

“This bill is all about protecting patients from overpriced prescriptions. Extensive research and exhaustive studies have shown there is a direct correlation between medical professionals who receive gifts and the prescription of expensive brand-name drugs,” Sen. McGuire said. “Throughout the state, large hospitals and medical centers have realized the importance of limiting gifts from the pharma industry to doctors – it’s time the State of California bans these types of gifts and incentives, which will put patients above profits.”

Recent studies from UCSF and Harvard link industry payments to physicians and prescribing rates.

Each year in the U.S., $73 billion is spent on brand name drugs for which an equivalent generic is available at a significantly lower cost. This has a big impact on taxpayers since Medicare pays for 1 in every 4 prescriptions in the United States.

Studies have shown the pharmaceutical industry spends over $20 billion in marketing every year in the United States. A majority of those marketing dollars are spent on promotions targeting medical professionals.

That interaction with the pharmaceutical industry is associated with negative consequences that includes unnecessary drug prescriptions, drug cost increases borne by the patient and less availability of generic drugs.

SB 790 gives California an opportunity to put patient care and drug affordability before corporate profits. The bill would significantly restrict the manufacturer of a prescribed product from offering or giving gifts and incentives such as travel and lodging, consulting fees and expensive meals and alcohol to health care providers.

The use of gifts is of significant concern to vulnerable populations. For example, medical professionals prescribing in California’s foster care system in recent years have received, on average, more than twice the amount in payments and incentives from drug companies when compared with the typical California doctor.

Sen. McGuire was successful in passing legislation last year creating protections for foster youth against the over-prescription of mind-numbing drugs.

During several hearings over the past two years, McGuire became increasingly aware that doctors prescribing in the foster care system were receiving a troubling number of gifts and payments. But the problem is larger than the foster care system, and statewide regulation is needed.

“The vast majority of medical professionals in California do their job well and put the needs of their patients first. But, the facts are clear. Current voluntary efforts are not enough to curb this growing trend and protect patients from overpriced prescriptions. SB 790 will restrict pharmaceutical gifts and help control drug costs,” McGuire said.

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

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20
 
– Curb and sidewalk repairs from Sayer Avenue to Ogden Road will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 29

– Emergency culvert repairs from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– Emergency highway repairs from Grouss Springs Road to Emerford Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency highway repairs from east of Arroyo Vista Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Pacific Wood Road beginning Monday, May 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Arjay Rafferty has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to pave a driveway near Philo Greenwood Road beginning Monday, May 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency slide removal near Leggett will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Bridge deck repairs at the East Fork Russian River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 25-minute delays.

Highway 101
 
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the junction of Routes 101/20 near Calpella on Tuesday, May 2, and Wednesday, May 3. A full closure of the onramp from Moore Street to northbound Route 101 and the connector ramp from northbound Route 101 to eastbound Route 20 will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists will be directed to use an alternate route.

– Emergency slide repairs on the westbound Route 20 to southbound Route 101 connector ramp will continue. Intermittent ramp closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Emergency slide removal near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Emergency slide removal near the Dora Creek Bridge will continue. The highway is fully closed until further notice. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

– Emergency slide removal near Piercy will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– Roadway repairs from Fish Rock Road to Yorkville will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162
 
– Emergency storm damage repairs near The Middle Way will continue. One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Emergency storm damage repairs near Sand Bank Creek will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary traffic signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Emergency storm damage repairs at various locations from Buckman Drive to the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays at each location.

 Highway 222

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near West Street on Monday, May 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.  

Highway 253

– Emergency roadway repairs from Booneville to Ukiah will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Butler Ranch to State Street beginning Monday, May 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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).

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
AND NOTICE OF PROPOSED MINOR USE PERMIT
BY THE LAKE COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Lake County Zoning Administrator of the County of Lake, State of California, will consider approving Minor Use Permit MUP 17-01 with no public hearing if no written request for a public hearing is submitted by 5:00 P.M., May 3, 2017 to the Community Development Department, Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, California. Should a timely request for hearing be filed, a public hearing will be held on May 10, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room C, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse.

Minor Use Permit MUP 17-01. Location: 8450 Scotts Valley Road, Lakeport, APN 003-037-04. Applicant: Lucas Kirkendall for Tammy Castro. Project: In accordance with Lake County Code to allow a 25% reduction of front setback for construction of a detached garage. Project planner: Mireya Turner, (707) 263-2221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Copies of the application, environmental documents, all reference documents, and staff reports associated with each project are available for review through the Community Development Department, Planning Division; Telephone (707) 263-2221.


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director

By: ____________________________________
Michalyn DelValle, Principal Planner

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – It’s official: The very best extra virgin olive oil in California is produced in Lake County by Chacewater Olive Mill’s “mill master” Emilio de la Cruz.

On March 11, the California Olive Oil Council, or COOC, annual convention and award ceremony, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Monterrey, awarded Chacewater Olive Mill the prestigious “Best of Show Award” for their gold medal-winning “Sevillano,” a Spanish varietal olive oil.

Consequently, the equally prestigious “Miller’s Recognition Award” was presented to Chacewater’s olive mill master, Emilio de la Cruz.

COOC, a nonprofit organization, using stricter standards than international requirements, certifies only the best California olive oils.

Recalling the gala award ceremony, de la Cruz said, “It was a big deal; formal attire was required. We were waiting to see who would win the ‘Best of Show Award.’ There were eight of us at our table.”

Presently, Chacewater was chosen as the “Best of Show” winner amidst a lot of celebration. Then shortly thereafter, it was announced, that de la Cruz had won the “Miller’s Recognition Award.”

“What? Oh wow! That’s pretty nice,” thought de la Cruz.

It was a minute or two before he realized he needed to go up and receive his award. “Oh you won!” exclaimed those at his table. “Go get your award!” they urged.

“Am I supposed to go get it?” the surprised de la Cruz asked.

“I’d had a couple of glasses of wine. Besides, we were just happy to have won the ‘Best of Show Award.’ I got up then. They took my picture. After being a miller since 2003, it’s good to get recognized,” he said.

Now the COOC has asked de la Cruz to represent the California olive oil industry at a trade show and dinner in Tokyo from May 20 to 24.

At this event, which will be featuring California agricultural products exclusively, de la Cruz will give a presentation to retailers and the media to promote California olive oil to the burgeoning market in Japan.

“Congratulations to Emilio,” said Chacewater owner, Paul Manual, who purchased the 10-acre olive orchard and mill on Gaddy Lane in 2008.

Manual has also created an award winning winery adjacent to his olive orchard and mill. “I had no understanding of (olive oil) production. I’ve learned to enjoy what Emilio has been doing,” he added.

In 2003 de la Cruz was a member of a Greek Orthodox monastery when it originally established the olive orchard and mill. He has been the miller ever since the beginning. He was retained as mill master by Manual after the transfer of ownership in 2008.

Chacewater’s olive orchard and vineyards are both organic. “It’s the only way we’ve ever farmed,” Manual stated matter-of-factly.

Chacewater’s tasting room is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Olive oil enthusiasts can join the celebratory mood at Chacewater’s seventh annual Olive Festival on Sunday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 5625 Gaddy Lane in Kelseyville. Admission is free.

The festival is a benefit for Lake Family Resource Center.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
AND NOTICE OF PROPOSED MINOR USE PERMIT
BY THE LAKE COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Lake County Zoning Administrator of the County of Lake, State of California, will consider approving Minor Use Permit MUP 17-08 with no public hearing if no written request for a public hearing is submitted by 5:00 P.M., May 3, 2017 to the Community Development Department, Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, California. Should a timely request for hearing be filed, a public hearing will be held on May 10, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. in Conference Room C, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse.

Minor Use Permit MUP 17-08. Location: 12900 Monte Vista Lane, Middletown, APN 013-011-65. Applicant: Sonnie Young. Project: In accordance with Lake County Code to allow the construction of a 1,350 square foot metal storage building. Project planner: Mireya Turner, (707) 263-2221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Copies of the application, environmental documents, all reference documents, and staff reports associated with each project are available for review through the Community Development Department, Planning Division; Telephone (707) 263-2221.


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director

By: ____________________________________
Michalyn DelValle, Principal Planner

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s emergency department has instituted rapid medical exams to encourage quicker, more effective care for patients utilizing the emergency department. The rapid medical exams have resulted in decreased wait times and increased patient satisfaction.

The rapid medical exams allow patients with less critical emergency needs, such as smaller cuts and abrasions or cold and flu symptoms, to be seen quickly by a qualified physicians assistant (PA) or family nurse practitioner (FNP) with emergency certification without waiting in the emergency department lobby.

After triage to assess the severity of the injury or condition, patients are invited back to a secondary waiting area and then seen one-by-one for tests or care in a private exam room.

The PA or FNP is able to focus on providing prompt care to lower-acuity cases instead of splitting their attention with more critical cases that require more time. This results in quicker care for patients and faster discharge.

When the rapid medical exams are available, patients and family members are able to sit in the secondary waiting area, which has a television and comfortable chairs, while waiting for test results or further care.

This has a secondary benefit by allowing the other exam rooms to remain available for critical cases, such as traumatic injury or cardiac arrest. Onsite radiology and laboratory services ensure quick turnaround on tests needed for diagnosis or treatment.

“Our emergency providers, nurses and patients have all responded very well to the rapid medical exam approach,” said Beth Brown, RN, director of emergency care at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. “We are able to give patients the care they need quickly, which results in better outcomes and a more positive experience for everyone.”

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s emergency room underwent a $12.1 million renovation in 2013, resulting in 3,445 additional square feet and five new patient monitoring rooms with state-of-the-art technology.

The emergency department is staffed by physicians, PAs, FNPs and certified emergency nurses trained in trauma, pediatric advanced life support and advanced cardiac life support, as well as professionals in other disciplines such as laboratory, pharmacy and medical imaging.

The emergency department is located at 15630 18th Ave. in Clearlake.

Visit www.sthelenahospitalclearlake.org for more information.

GRANITE BAY, Calif. – If one word could describe the fourth race for local high school mountain bikers it would be “epic.”

Defined as “impressive or remarkable,” this race will go down in the books as definitely unforgettable.

The Clear Lake, Kelseyville and Middletown athletes who ventured to Granite Bay State Park on Saturday, April 8, experienced the full gamut of weather just short of snow.

Normally the 6-mile course with 450 feet of climbing per lap (riders race two to four laps) is smooth, flowy and fast course. This winter it had been served it a beating. The course was muddy and rough, riddled with water ruts and downed trees.

The girls’ races got off without a hitch under the ominous sky. As the girls came around for their second laps, you could see the evidence of the trail conditions. The mud was all over them and you could tell that many of them had crashed.

In fact Kelseyville High School junior varsity girls rider Hannah Warren actually locked bars with another girl right at the start and had crashed out.

“The mud was a good thing because it gave me a soft landing when I flipped over my handle bars,” said Clear Lake High sophomore Rainey Vanoven.

It wasn’t the best day for the girls.

Kia Kohler (KHS – JV girls) had her lowest placing of the season at 12th, Miranda Cramer (CLHS – frosh girls) 14th.

Vanoven managed to pull off another podium finish at fifth. “It was definitely tough test race to keep my spot on the podium,” she said. “The rain was OK but it was freezing at the beginning.”

By the time the freshman and sophomore boys began their race, the rain turned to a downpour. If the rain and cold wind weren’t enough, next came the hail.

Riders came around for their second lap wet and red from the hail pelting them, but with looks of determination and grit on their faces.

The JV and varsity boys race starts were delayed an hour and luckily conditions allowed them to begin. By this time, lap counts had been reduced, making finishing more possible.

Riders appeared to have accepted their wet fate and embraced it. Although one freshman rider had smashed his dérailleur on a rock and pulled out of the race, all the others finished.

Among the boys, the top finishers were Bron Falkenberg (CLHS – frosh) at 18th of 48 and Christian Lindsey (KHS – sophomore) 11th of 43 riders.

As stated in the league race report, finishers “came away from the race with a genuine sense of accomplishment and even heroism. The weekend served up an unbelievable amount of challenges, and our student-athletes and volunteers did what they always do: they stepped up to the plate and took the challenge head first.” Here, here, I concur.

Clear Lake, Kelseyville and Middletown high school mountain bikers will return to race this Saturday, April 29, on their newly built course at Six Sigma Ranch and Winery at 13372 Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake.

Like all NorCal Cycling League races, they are free and open to spectators so come on out and cheer them on. Races begin at 9 a.m.

For more info, go to www.norcalmtb.org and look under “races.”

Tami Cramer is coach and team director for the Clear Lake and Kelseyville High School mountain bike teams.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT
A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY
THE LAKE COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Zoning Administrator and Development Review Committee of the County of Lake, State of California, will consider recommended environmental determinations and hold a public hearing on whether to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the Minor Use Permit 17-03 and Design Review 17-01 based on Initial Study, IS 17-02 described in this notice. The public hearing will be held on May 3, 2017, at 2:00 PM located in Conference Room C, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse located at 255 N. Forbes Street, Lakeport, California.

Minor Use Permit 17-03 and Design Review 17-01. Location: 2585 South Main Street, Lakeport, CA, CA, APN 005-053-19. Owner: Edward Brown. Project: To allow a commercial storage building over 6,000 square feet in size for the storage of boats, recreational vehicles, ATV’s, side-by-sides and accessory uses for Hillside Honda. Project Planner: Mark Roberts, (707) 263-2221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Copies of the application, environmental documents, all reference documents, and staff reports associated with each project are available for review through the Community Development Department, Planning Division, Telephone (707) 263-2221. Please bring this notice to the attention of anyone who may be interested in this information.
   

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director

By: ____________________________________
Michalyn DelValle, Principal Planner