NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) is honoring top high school students in Lake and Mendocino counties with scholarships and achievement awards for the 2015-16 school year.

Richard Cooper, president and chief executive officer for the credit union, announced this year’s award winners and MLCU representatives visited the high schools to make the award presentations.

Receiving the credit union’s $1,000 Arlene Colombini Scholarships in Lake County were Christopher Griffith of Clear Lake High School and Hannah Flynn of Middletown High School.

In Mendocino County, the Colombini Scholarships were awarded to Leslie Leal of Fort Bragg High School and Frank Ortiz of Ukiah High School.

Named for Arlene Colombini in recognition of her 50 years of service to Mendo Lake Credit Union, the $1,000 scholarships are awarded to four Lake and Mendocino County high school or community college students each year.

Each recipient of the scholarship must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, be enrolled for 12 units or more in a college or university, and submit a personal statement that describes his or her need for the award and the goals in his or her life.

In announcing the Mendo Lake Credit Union Achievement Awards for this year, Cooper said, “Our Achievement Awards program honors outstanding high school seniors whose scholastic attainment, sense of responsibility, community service, and evidence of leadership give the most promise of success and service to society.”

All comprehensive high schools in Lake and Mendocino counties are invited to participate in the program.

Honorarium awards in the amount of $50 each are awarded to two students who represent “the highest level of attainment overall” at each high school.

Additionally, the credit union presents certificates to students who have demonstrated excellence in specific study areas.

Schools choose to participate in the program and how many certificates they award students. Honorees are selected by school staff.

“On behalf of the Mendo Lake Credit Union staff at all four of our branches, I congratulate all of the Achievement Award winners and Arlene Colombini scholars,” said Cooper.
 
The winners at each of the high schools are:

– Clear Lake High School (Lakeport): $50 honorariums to Ethan Jones and Mina Werner. Certificates to Emily Omiotek (English), Jessica Beall (foreign language), Andrew Avila (foreign language), Nate Falkenberg (history/social science), Cord Falkenberg (science), Reginald Selotte (mathematics), Eloisa Morfin (computer studies), John Vertrees (trades and industrial), Kayvee Pepper (art), Rachel Wingler (music) and Ciera Moreno (health).

– Kelseyville High School (Kelseyville): $50 honorariums to Mariah Rudnick and Ricardo Covarrubias. Certificates to Roberto Lozano (English), Maria Guzman (English as a second language), Alex Sanchez (foreign language), Juliann Totorica (history/social science), Noah Lyndall (science), Madison Boyd (mathematics), Nolan Hildebrand (computer studies), Jose Cacho (trades and industrial), Kelly Duty (art) and Sara Humphry (music).

– Konocti Education Center School (Clearlake): $50 honorariums to Nicolas Jaime and Harleen Kaur. Certificates to MariCarmen Macias Perez (English), Weeden Wetmore (history/social science), Patricia Beltran (science) and Luis Orozco-Sanchez (mathematics).

– Lower Lake High School (Lower Lake): $50 honorariums to Cynthia Griego and Mira Porsley. Certificates to Gabriela Jauregui (English and mathematics), Johnny Rivera Borja (English as a second language), Diana Perez (foreign language), Antonio Pimentel (history/social science), Victor Gallegos (science), Joseph Asbury (computer studies), Madison Serpa (trades and industrial), Morgan Adkins (art), Markesha Annand (music) and Megan Smith (drama).

– Middletown High School (Middletown): $50 honorariums to Jacob Holton and Alejandra Madrigal. Certificates to Kailei Foltmer (English), Daniel Lopez (English as a second language), Jorge Morales (foreign language), Jonathan Nance (history/social science), Meghan Carlisle (science), Trevor Smith (mathematics), Kayla Forest (computer studies), Wyatt Jones (trades and industrial), Vanessa Castrellon (art), Jaeden Stump (music) and Christian Nikolav (drama).

– Upper Lake High School (Upper Lake): $50 honorariums to Mercedes De Los Santos and David Becerra-Lopez. Certificates to Katie Foster (English), Alejandro DeJesus Merino (English as a second language), Wroehnyn Milks (foreign language), Collin McVey (history/social science), Kaylee O’Bryant (science), Melissa Li (mathematics), Patrick Denver (computer studies), Zachary Sneathen (trades and industrial), Jessica Arroyo (art), Justin Lewis (music) and Shably Navarro (drama).

– Fort Bragg High School (Fort Bragg): $50 honorariums to Victoria Yanez and Mathew Mateson.

– Willits High School (Willits): $50 honorariums to Sylvia Friend and Shivam Patel.

Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. MLCU branches are located in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Pool will be open for the 2016 swim season on Saturday, June 25.

The pool will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, from noon to 5 p.m.
 
Daily gate fee rates for children 12 years and under are $1.25, adult fees (13 years and older) are $2.

Children 12 years and under must be accompanied by a 13 year old or older.

Season gate passes are available at the Middletown Pool during its business hours. Family passes are $80 and individual passes are $40 per season.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Public Services office at 707-262-1618 .
 
The Public Services staff wishes all residents and visitors of Lake County a safe and enjoyable summer.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Fair Board will meet on Monday, June 27.

The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the fairgrounds administration office, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

The board will finalize the selection of the 2016 fair grand marshal; hear committee reports and the chief executive officer's report; and discuss the Lake County Fair, which takes place in September.

The fair board's membership include Janeane Bogner, Marcia Chauvin, James Cochrane, Katherine McDowell, Annette Hopkins, Meyo Marrufo and Jerry McQueen.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Mediacom Family TV subscribers using digital set-top boxes have free access to the entire Disney Channel Original Movies collection all summer-long, through Labor Day.

The popular cable channel premiered its 100th original movie, Adventures in Babysitting, on June 24; and to celebrate this rare television milestone, all 100 Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) are now available to watch at no cost in a special feature category of Mediacom On Demand (channel 1).

This is first time for the complete movie collection to be available at once, giving viewers unlimited viewing any time they choose through Labor Day.

Fans will find the DCOM collection at Mediacom On Demand Channel 1 by first choosing the “Kids” category, then selecting “Disney Channel” and “100 DCOMs.”

For 14 consecutive years, Disney Channel Original Movies have delivered the No. 1-rated cable TV movies for the tween audience, ages 9-14.

Overall, Disney Channel Original Movies hold a record six spots in the ranking of Top 7 highest-rated original cable TV movies.

These title in the Top 7 ranking are six of the 100 movies available to watch in the special On Demand collection:  High School Musical 2; Teen Beach Movie; Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie; Descendants; Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension; and Camp Rock.

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

– Pavement repairs from Sayre Avenue to the Paradise Cove subdivision will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect during nighttime paving, which will take place between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday night through Thursday night. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– The Mine Restoration Project has been issued a long-term Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow trucks to access their worksite near the Colusa County Line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 29

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work near Kelseyville Auto Salvage. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work between near the north limits of Caspar on Thursday, June 30. Lane and shoulder closures will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Paving operations between Harmon Lane and the Wildwood Campground began Monday, June 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Highway construction from 0.6 mile south of Upp Creek to the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from Road 307 to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– The Kate Wolf Music Festival has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold a special event at the Black Oaks Ranch beginning Thursday, June 23. Northbound traffic will notice the addition of a temporary left-turn lane to access the event, and through traffic will detour around the temporary lane. These traffic conditions will be in place until 3 p.m. Monday, June 27.

– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate seven-minute delays.

Highway 162

– Turnout construction between the Outlet Creek Bridge and Poonkiny-Fairbanks began Monday, June 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work near the Corral Creek Bridge on Tuesday, June 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Highway repairs from Cattle Pass to Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-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).

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Department of Child Support Services is moving to a new location in July.

Starting on July 5, the agency will be headquartered at 3980 Gard St., Kelseyville.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information call the department at 866-901-3212 or stop by and see the new office after July 5.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – Fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana doubled after Washington state legalized the drug, according to the latest research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

This raises serious concerns about marijuana-impaired driving and enforcement, especially when recent research indicates that legal limits for marijuana and driving are arbitrary and unsupported by science.

Washington legalized marijuana in December 2012. Since then the percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes who recently used marijuana more than doubled from eight to 17 percent from 2013 to 2014 and one in six drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2104 had recently used marijuana, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The foundation used the experience in Washington to conduct research into the impact of legalization of marijuana on traffic safety.

To enforce drug-impaired driving laws, many states have created legal limits or per se limits to specify the maximum amount of active THC – the chemical that induces marijuana’s effects – that drivers can have in their systems based on a blood test.

These laws are similar to blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, limits used to enforce driving under the influence of alcohol.

However, researchers examined lab results of drivers arrested for impaired driving and the results suggest that legal limits or per se laws for marijuana and driving are problematic because:

· There is no science showing that drivers reliably become impaired at a specific level of marijuana in the blood. Marijuana levels differ from alcohol where it is clear that crash risk increases significantly at higher BAC levels. With marijuana it depends on the individual. Drivers with relatively high levels of the marijuana in their system might not be impaired, while others with low levels may be unsafe behind the wheel.

· High THC levels may drop below legal thresholds before a test in administered to a suspected impaired driver. It takes an average of two hours to collect blood from a suspected driver because it typically requires a warrant and transport to a facility. Active THC blood levels may decline significantly and could drop below legal limits during that time.

· Marijuana can affect people differently, making it challenging to develop consistent and fair guidelines. For example, frequent users of marijuana can exhibit persistent levels of the drug long after use, while drug levels can decline more rapidly among occasional users.

If a state relies only on standard per se laws regarding blood limits, some unsafe motorists would go free and others would be wrongfully convicted for impaired driving because it is not possible to determine whether a driver is impaired based solely on the amount of the drug in their body.

AAA urges states to use more comprehensive enforcement measure to improve road safety.

Rather than relying on arbitrary legal limits (per se laws), states should use a two-component system that requires (1) a positive test for recent marijuana use, and more importantly, (2) behavioral and physiological evidence of driver impairment.

This system would rely heavily on two current law-enforcement training programs: “Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement” (ARIDE) and the 50-state “Drug Evaluation and Classification” (DEC). These programs train law enforcement officers to more effectively recognize drug-impaired driving.

“Marijuana can affect driver safety by impairing vehicle control and judgment. Whether the use of marijuana is legal or not, all motorists should avoid driving while impaired,” said Cynthia Harris , AAA northern California spokesperson. “Drivers who get behind the wheel while impaired put themselves and others on the road at risk.”

Two new studies by the AAA Foundation highlight marijuana and driving:

· Prevalence of Marijuana Involvement in Fatal Crashes: Washington, 2010-2014.

· An Evaluation of Data from Drivers Arrested for Driving Under the Influence in Relation to Per se Limits for Cannabis.

The foundation also is releasing research into marijuana and driving, including:

· Cannabis Use Among Drivers Suspected of Driving Under the Influence or Involved in Collisions: Analysis of Washington State Patrol Data.

· Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Marijuana: Beliefs and Behaviors, United States, 2013-2015.

· Advancing Drugged Driving Data at the State Level: Synthesis of Barriers and Expert Panel Recommendations.

· Overview of Major Issues Regarding the Impacts of Alcohol and Marijuana on Driving.

Established by AAA in 1947, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, publicly supported charitable research and educational organization.

Dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries on our roads, the foundation’s mission is to prevent crashes and save lives through research and education about traffic safety.

The foundation has funded more than 300 research projects designed to discover the causes of traffic crashes, prevent them and minimize injuries when they do occur.

Visit www.AAAfoundation.org for more information on this and other research.

“It takes a village to raise a child.” Our local community truly exemplifies this proverb.

The Clear Lake High School 2016 Sober Graduation Committee is grateful to all who contributed to a safe and fun event for our town’s graduates.

The list of helpers and supporters is impressive! From the many family members who played a role to the many businesses and organizations who contributed goods or monies, all helped to execute a successful celebration.

Try as we might to recognize thank each and every supporter, we may inadvertently omit a name; please know you are appreciated:

Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department, Country Air Properties, Lakeport Christian Center, Dr. Keith Long, Lake Parts and Napa Auto, Dr. Vartabedian, Calpine Corp., Renee’s Café, Lola Helms, In and Out Burger of Irvine, Disney Boating, Cinema 5 Movie Theater, Every 15 Minutes, the Scott family, Dr. Brian Gray, Flowers by Jackie, Deschamps Automotive, Village Detail, Konocti Vista Casino, Sonoma Raceway, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Quail Run, Round Table Pizza, Chalerm Thai Bistro, Jimmy’s Deli, Clear Lake Rodeo Association, Nanette Dutcher, the Falkenberg family, the Stahl family, Chapel of the Lakes, Dr. David Browning, Interior/Exterior Wood Products – Tony and Geri Velasquez, Clearlake Redi-Mix, Scandia, Cobb Mountain Texaco, Redwood Empire Ice Operation, Lakeport Lions, Northlake Pharmacy, Tutti Frutti Lakeport, Richardson family, Guy Strohmeier's Auto Center, and all the amazing parents on the sober grad committee.

Thank you for being our “village.”

Peggy Alexander is a member of the Sober Grad Committee for Clear Lake High School's Class of 2016 in Lakeport, Calif.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Visitors from Way to Wellville communities across the country said they see leadership, collaboration and a sense of boldness during an annual conference in Spartanburg, SC.

Way to Wellville, a project designed to measure and improve an area's health, selected Lake County in August 2014 as one of five communities for the five-year challenge.

Lake County representatives attended an annual gathering of the communities – Clatsop County, Ore.; Greater Muskegon, Mich.; Lake County, Calif.; Spartanburg, S.C.; and Niagara Falls, N.Y. – in Spartanburg in early June.

“It’s eye opening to see what other populations under a hundred thousand people are doing, and hear about best practices from other communities,” said Allison Panella of Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “The conference sparked a lot of excitement about what’s possible in Lake County.”

“The word I think of is ‘inspired’,” said Kim Tangermann, Mendocino Community Health Clinic. “Coming together as a group made me realize that other counties struggle with a lot of the same things we do, but everyone is pushing for change. What can we do that’s outside the box? Who else can we get involved?

“We’re all committed to giving every individual the opportunity to have a great life here. Making changes is difficult work, but there’s an undeniable opportunity happening right now and that, to me, is encouraging

“We work in a community impacted by poverty, which is partly a function of childhood experiences,” said Jen Dalton, North Coast Opportunities. “A big part of North Coast Opportunities’ mission is to create environments for people to have access to similar experiences. A lot of our work is about community engagement, and that’s something we really heard a lot of from the other communities. The community’s voice is the most important voice.”

Lake County recently completed its triennial Community Health Needs Assessment, which identifies top health priorities with the goal of developing strategies to address such needs. Way to Wellville participants plan to use the data from the CHNA as a springboard to take on areas of most critical need, according to Dalton.

“The conference was a productive mix of practical ideas and bigger picture inspiration,” said Shelly Mascari, Adventist Health. “The work in Lake County is far bigger than any one agency, person, or initiative. It really will take every single one of us functioning at the highest capacity to accomplish change. Every person who attended has an action plan that supports shifting our health ranking; I left re-inspired by the amazing people we have working in Lake County.”

Kimberley Sims, mayor of the city of Muskegon Heights, Mich., said she has learned a lot during her first visit to Spartanburg.

“Health care is something that honestly I never found a whole lot of interest in, but being a part of Wellville has really enabled me to see what my role in health needs to be from the leadership and the local government perspective,” she said.

Sims said she will be taking several ideas back with her to Michigan.

Marcus Robinson, with the Chicago-based Social Innovation Group, was invited to the conference as an expert on community building and development. He said his greatest take away from the conference is realizing that major change is a long process, not a quick fix.

“It takes vision and courage and people who have gravity and a stake in the community to pull everybody along,” he said.

“We have to focus on what’s possible instead of what’s holding us back,” said Dalton. “We have to keep moving forward.”

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Marge, 103 years young, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at her home in Kelseyville.

She was born in Los Angeles on March 5, 1913, to Arthur and Florence Esterberg.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard Holdenried, they shared 34 years together; her children,  Jim Kelley, Raymond Kelley and Carolyn Hergert.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Mary Kelley; grandchildren, Bob (Jennifer) Kelley, Tom (Julie) Kelley, Bruce (Pam) Gard, Janet (Brenndon) Bosse, Nikki Jones (Stephen Klein); and many great-grand and great-great-grand kids.

Marge was a member of the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, a two-time deacon. She enjoyed bowling, watching the Warriors, Giants, “The Price is Right,” “Jeopardy” and “Dancing with the Stars.” She will be remembered for her love of family, friends and caregivers.

Visitation will be held at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church on Monday, June 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. with a funeral service following at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport, with a reception back at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church.

For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .