LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 14, the Clear Lake Cardinals hosted their fifth annual Michael Kroppmann Memorial Wrestling Tournament.  

Even with injuries and illnesses throughout the team, the Cards were still able to enter 13 wrestlers – six boys and seven girls – into their home tournament.

The girls placed fourth as a team, just points away from third.

Mavis Pyorre (girls 111 lbs.) went 3-0 with three pins to win a gold medal and was also awarded the Outstanding Wrestler of the Girls tournament, as voted on by the participating teams’ coaches.

Silver medals went to Justin Cantrell (boys 152 lbs.) who was 2-1, beating both the third and fourth placers along the way and Shelby Butcher (girls 189 lbs.).

Merari Alvarez (girls 160 lbs.) took home a bronze medal and Kally Vinson (girls 235 lbs.) placed fourth, going 1-2 with one pin.

Placing fifth at 2-2 were Frankie Sturr (boys 132 lbs.), Scarlett Ballard (girls 126 lbs.), each with two pins, along with Samantha Bruno (girls 235 lbs.) with one pin,  Mackenzie Markham (girls 106 lbs.) at 1-2 and Ozod Ermatov (boys 138 lbs.). Frank Weiler (boys 220 lbs.) placed sixth going 1-3 with one pin.

Also wrestling for the Cardinals was Thomas Lairson and Hayden Eastham, both at 126 lbs.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The first Sierra Club Lake Group community meeting of the new year will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Lower Lake Methodist Church social hall, 16255 Second St., and will feature a presentation by Dr. Harry Lyons on the biology, economics and politics of the Middle Creek Marsh Wetland Restoration Project.

It is generally agreed that this multi-agency effort at flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration is the single most important action we can take to improve the long-term health of Clear Lake: It would eliminate dwellings on low ground, add 1,400 acres of wetland to the Clear Lake watershed and reduce nutrient input to the lake.

Achieving the long-term economic and ecological benefits of the project requires an investment of more than $50 million by the county, state and federal governments, and requires cooperation among a dozen agencies and support from a score of stakeholder organizations.

The project is far from a done deal; Dr. Lyons, as a member of the Middle Creek Restoration Coalition, has joined other citizens in an effort to generate the endless patience and political push to remove roadblocks.

To encourage patience and push, Dr. Lyons will perform a relevant tune or two.

As always, the meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Lake Group Chair Ed Robey at 707-994-8304 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Neighborhood Watch will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The group will meet beginning at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 14550 Pearl Ave.

Organizers said a Clearlake Police officer will be in attendance for the meeting.

There will be a discussion of problems in the Clearlake area, which in addition to crime include code enforcement violations.

There also will be refreshments and a raffle.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The first of a four-part Contemporary Chamber Music Series produced by Beth Aiken and Jeff Ives takes place on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 3 p.m. at the Soper Reese Theatre.

January's program features Barbara D'Augelli (flute) and Sergei Bassehes (guitar).

They will perform pieces from composers Emile Desportes, Mauro Guiliani, Radames Gnattali and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.

The series is presented under the auspices of the Soper Reese Theatre. All seats are reserved. Tickets are $20 and $15. Children 18 and under are free.

Three more concerts follow in February, March and April.

On Feb. 19 Luiz Coelho is the featured performer for chamber pieces that will include quintets and trios in various combinations of strings, piano, and clarinet.

On March 19 Tammie Dyer and distinguished associates from the North Bay present a wide range of classics from the string repertoire of Walton, Handel and Bach.

The season ends on April 23 with critically acclaimed “Trois Bois”  performing pieces from the 20th century.

In addition to individual concert tickets, a four-concert season ticket is now on sale for $70 and $50. Go to www.SoperReeseTheatre.com to purchase individual or season tickets.

Tickets also available at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The United Methodist Church, 604 Clover Valley Road, Upper Lake will host a “Church Growth and Evangelism” seminar in the church fellowship hall on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The seminar will be lead by Rev. Kelly Green who has post-graduate degrees in biblical theology and global leadership.

Rev. Kelly has 25 years experience in church growth and evangelism work in Medellin and Bogota, Columbia. He is currently employed by Frontier Missions.

Prior to working at Frontier he worked for Latin American Missions. He is the son of Upper Lake United Methodist minister, Rev. Bob Green.

There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.

You are encouraged to bring a sack lunch or eat at one of the six restaurants located in Upper Lake, not far from the church. Coffee, tea and water will be provided throughout the day.

There is no charge to attend the seminar, however, a free will offering will be gratefully accepted and appreciated. The seminar is open to everyone and is not tied to any one denomination.

All who are interested in attending should RSVP to the church office, telephone 707-275-2459, no later than Jan. 19, with the number of people in your party.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Born Aug. 10, 1951, Bobbi died of complications of pneumonia on Dec. 23, 2016, in her home in Lucerne.

Bobbi is survived by Gary Sharpe, her husband of nearly 43 years, as well as her daughter Connie Sharpe, son Steve Sharpe, and her two sisters, Janet Gardner and Barbara Fielding, along with two grandchildren, six nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Jennie Shrader.

Bobbi was born Roberta Lee Sharpe in Jerome, Idaho, on Aug. 10, 1951. Her parents later moved to Colorado.

She graduated from Billy Mitchell High School in 1969 and then took classes for a year at the local community college. After that she went to barber college in Pueblo, Colo., and became the first female men’s hair stylist in Canon City, Colo., in 1973.

There, she met Gary Sharpe. They fell in love and married in 1974 and remained so until her passing in 2016.

Gary worked for the Bureau of Land Management and as a private bookkeeper/accountant so they lived in several different parts of the West. Their daughter Connie was born in Canon City, Colo., and their son Steve was born in Roseburg, Ore.

Other places they lived and raised their family included Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colo.; Phoenix and Mohave Valley, Ariz.; and in California, Potter Valley, Blue Lakes and, finally, Lucerne. No matter where she lived, Bobbi made it their home.

Bobbi was a kind and loving person who enjoyed family, friends and life. She loved animals, particularly her beautiful little Pomeranian named Suzy. She enjoyed cooking, baking, traveling, adventures, old movies, and watching beautiful sunsets.

She loved her family with all her heart … as we loved her.

A memorial service will be held at Clearlake First Assembly of God on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. A catered celebration of life will follow at the downstairs fellowship hall of the church, located at 4472 Snook Ave. in Clearlake.

Presidential candidate: We will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it.

Presidential candidate: Who will pay for the wall?

Crowd at rally: Mexico!

Presidential candidate after meeting with president of Mexico: Mexico will pay for the wall.

President of Mexico: Mexico will not pay for the wall

President-elect: The United States’ taxpayers will pay for the wall and Mexico will reimburse them.

Foreign Minister of Mexico: There is no way Mexico will pay for the wall.

Who speaks for the government of Mexico? Who will pay for the wall?

Stay tuned.

Dennis Rollins lives in Lakeport, Calif.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Rotary Club’s 25th annual fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Twin Pine Event Center in Middletown.

This year's event will feature a number of great auction items, including a condo stay in Cabo San Lucas, a day trip on the Delta, a behind-the-scenes tour and lunch for six at Golden Gate Fields, a fabulous Italian dinner for eight at Fults Family Vineyards that includes an original framed watercolor painting of Venice by local artist LaDonn Morgan-Garcia and an RV vacation.

Individual tickets are $60 per person. Hors d’oeuvres are served at 5 p.m., a prime rib dinner starts at 6 p.m. with a no-host bar. Vegetarian meals are available upon request. Reserved tables for groups of eight are also available.

The club is also soliciting more donations and sponsorships. This popular event draws large crowds, is usually sold out, providing a tremendous marketing opportunity. All contributions are acknowledged publicly. Business/corporate sponsorships include tickets. If a donation cannot be mailed, club members will arrange a pick up.

This lively event is usually sold out, so please contact Kathey Crothers for tickets or for more information at 707-355-0393, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information about how you can participate in this well-known event.

Rotary is a volunteer organization, so all fundraiser proceeds go to projects and programs. The club meets every Friday morning at 7:15 a.m. at the Greenview Room in Hidden Valley Lake.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Middletown, contact club President Ron Roberts at 707-987-9824.

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and their team from the television show “American Pickers” are returning to California.

Episodes of the hit series will be filmed throughout the region in this spring.

“American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on
the History Channel.

The hit show follows Wolfe and Fritz, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques.

They are always excited to find sizable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Wolfe and Fritz are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items.

The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way.

Wolfe and Fritz have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.

“American Pickers” is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 855-OLD-RUST.

“American Pickers” is produced by Cineflix Productions for History. New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m. on History.

Those of you who've returned home to visit parents may recognize the way the familiar and the strange wash together in this wise and peaceful poem by Robert Tremmel.

The poet is from Iowa and his most recent book is “There is a Naked Man” (Main Street Rag Press, 2010).

All the Questions

When you step through
the back door
into the kitchen
father is still
sitting at the table
with a newspaper
folded open
in front of him
and pen raised, working
the crossword puzzle.

In the living room
mother is sleeping
her peaceful sleep
at last, in a purple
robe, with her head
back, slippered feet
up and twisted
knuckle hands crossed
right over left
in her lap.

Through the south window
in your old room
you see leaves
on the giant ash tree
turning yellow again
in setting sun
and falling slowly
to the ground and one
by one all the questions
you ever had become clear.

Number one across:
a four-letter word
for no longer.

Number one down:
an eleven letter word
for gone.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited submissions. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Introduction copyright © 2017 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.