SACRAMENTO – The final vote has been cast by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that will open up $10 million in funding for rural and small school districts to replace their aging and dilapidated school buses.

Rural and small districts have among the oldest and dirtiest burning fleets of buses in California.

Working together, state Sen. Mike McGuire and the board advanced a budget proposal this year that would allocate $10 million and implement a grant process designed to meet the unique needs of small and rural school districts.

“We have spent the past year developing a grant process and funding allocation that will be successful for California’s rural and small schools – which have among the oldest and dirtiest burning school buses in the state,” McGuire said. “This year’s budget agreement will now bring twice the original allocation – $10 million to our state’s small schools, putting fuel efficient, cleaner burning school buses on the road, which will improve health outcomes for school kids and reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”

The statewide grant administrator of this program will be based on the North Coast. This is to ensure the program will be run by someone who lives and works in a rural area, and is familiar with the unique and special set of circumstances small, rural schools face.

Now that the funding has been approved, the North Coast Air District will start administering the grants. The grant will award up to three electric school buses or one conventional fuel bus to individual applicants.

In addition, CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols is implementing a survey of all old school buses across the state so the board will have a better understanding of the statewide problem.

Sen. McGuire has led the effort to advance this project and has worked collaboratively with the Air Resources Board to develop the program.

“Small and rural school districts have been left out of the school bus replacement funding allocations for too long and we are grateful to have worked with the Air Resources Board to make this program a reality,” Sen. McGuire said. “We have fought hard to ensure rural students are not left behind, especially when it comes to their health, safety, and educational opportunities and we couldn’t be more excited to see this program moving forward.”

Rural school districts transport a significant share of their total student population compared to larger districts. This means, per capita, rural students are exposed to higher forms of pollutants.

The California Air Resources Board has stated that bus-related exposure to exhaust fumes is due to time spent commuting on the school bus. Exhaust fumes are known to be one of the leading causes of asthma.

While small and rural school districts want to advance environmentally preferred transportation alternatives, these districts are challenged to afford bus replacements because they have less discretionary funding and limited access to other types of funding that urban school districts often use to replace aging bus fleets.

Moreover, rural transportation costs per student are typically higher due to the greater distance rural students are required to travel to and from school.

The $10 million Rural School Bus Replacement Pilot Program was approved on Oct. 20 as part of CARB’s fiscal year 2016-2017 Funding Plan for Low Carbon Transportation and Fuels Investments and the Air Quality Improvement Program.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County Public Works Department reported that a portion of Dry Creek Road was closed on Tuesday morning.

The impacted portion of roadway is at the Dry Creek Bridge, where the heavy rains led to a washout of the roadway. The agency is now making repairs to make the road passable again.

The road is closed until further notice.

For more information contact Lake County Public Works at 707-263-2341.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A veterans education outreach event will be held at the Lake County Campus of Woodland College in Clearlake on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 1 to 4 p.m.

This event is a collaboration effort of Lake County Campus, the Clearlake VA and Employment Development Department to assist veterans in applying for the education benefits, learn about programs offered and enroll at Woodland College for the Spring 2017 semester. 

Class registration begins Nov. 14, and classes start Jan. 23, 2017.

Veterans need to bring photo ID and their DD214. Participants will be assisted with all aspects of educational planning.

If you have questions about this event you may call the Lake County Campus of Woodland College at 707-995-7914.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Sons in Retirement club is hosting a series of upcoming events through the end of this year.

Through the remainder of October, the club plans for a golf tournament in Hidden Valley Lake on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and a trip to see “The Sound of Music” in Sacramento on Thursday, Oct. 27.

On Nov. 9, SIR will host its final golf tournament of the year at Black Rock Golf Course in Cobb.

The group's regular meeting on Nov. 11 will include a talk by special guest, Sheriff Brian Martin.

From Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, the group will travel to Reno to see “Miracle on 34th Street” and do some Christmas shopping.

The SIR Christmas dinner meeting will take place on Dec. 9, with a “Mexican Christmas” theme.

Sons In Retirement is a social organization for men of retirement age who are pursuing the goal of enjoying their later years.

Branch 168 holds a Luncheon on the second Friday of each month at TNT Restaurant in Lakeport.

If you are interested in learning more about Sons In Retirement contact Larry Powers, chair of the membership committee, at 707-263-3403 or visit the state Web site at http://sirinc.org/sirhappenings/ .

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith has warned consumers about the risks associated with wearing decorative contact lenses.

“Wearing any kind of contact lens, including decorative lenses, without proper consultation of an eye care professional can cause serious injury,” Dr. Smith said. “The risks include infection, ulcers, decreased vision, cuts or scratches to the surface of the eye, itchiness or redness. If these conditions are left untreated, the injuries can progress rapidly. In severe cases, blindness and eye loss can occur.”

The sale of contact lenses without a prescription is illegal. Only Board of Optometry licensed optometrists and ophthalmologists are authorized to prescribe and dispense prescription contact lenses.

Medical Board of California registered opticians and optical shops are authorized to fill contact lens prescriptions.

Decorative contact lenses are intended to temporarily change the appearance of the eye, but do not correct vision.

Advertised as color, cosmetic, fashion and theatrical contact lenses, they are especially popular around Halloween. Decorative contact lenses are typically sold at beauty supply and novelty stores.

Consumers who have experienced any injury or illness with decorative contact lenses should contact their health care provider. Consumers can report the illegal sale of decorative contact lenses without a prescription to CDPH’s Food and Drug Branch Hotline at 1-800-495-3232 to initiate an investigation.

Monica Rosenthal, candidate for District 1 supervisor, has been involved in many different agencies and organizations within Lake County for over 20 years. She has depth of knowledge that will enable her to hit the ground running as our County representative.

Examples include serving on the Lake County Planning Commission, the Lake County Farm Bureau Board and on the Napa/Lake Workforce Investment Board.

When I compare Mr. Simon’s resume to Ms. Rosenthal’s, she wins hands down. Monica’s extensive volunteer activities provide a much broader base of knowledge and relevant experience.

As a resident of Hidden Valley Lake I have discussed a few of our most pressing county-related problems with her.

One is the water moratorium, which has rendered our undeveloped lots worthless because no new water service can be provided. She has investigated the issues behind the water moratorium and has a strategy for working with relevant state agencies to resolve this edict.

Another high priority issue is the county building permitting process. With local residents trying to rebuild after the Valley fire, many complain of the disorganization in our county building department. Monica’s planning background combined with the relationships she has developed over the years will foster a proactive approach with higher expectations and better oversight to enable residents’ recovery efforts.

I am supporting Monica because experience and qualifications matter.

Join me in voting for Monica Rosenthal as our next District 1 supervisor.

Susan Cameron lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.

I respect Jose “Moke” Simon III and the job he does as council tribal chair of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians.

However, did you know that if elected as the District 1 supervisor, he will be setting ordinances for all of us in Lake County that he and his tribe, as members of a sovereign nation, do not have to follow? That concerns me.

Monica Rosenthal is, fortunately, another strong candidate running for District 1 supervisor. She knows county government and the people who run it and she has a history of bringing people together to make the process work.

Most importantly, she wants to preserve what we value in our beautiful county while raising our standard of living through responsible economic development.

Please join me not just in voting for Monica, but in getting to know her and helping others to know her. It is so important for us to carefully choose our county representatives.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or go to www.monicaforsupervisor.com for more information.

Beth Rudiger lives in Lower Lake, Calif., and owns a business in Middletown, Calif.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, the voters in the Konocti Unified School District (KUSD) will be asked to consider Measure Y, a local school bond. 

KUSD has increased enrollment by 300 students in the past three years and we are running out of classroom space.

Measure Y funds will be used to build new classrooms and science labs to accommodate our growing student enrollment.

Funds will also replace or improve our older school buildings, help ensure the safety and security of our students and our staff, and provide better access to modern technology.

Measure Y provides for strict accountability. We will conduct annual audits to ensure bond funds are spent properly and an independent citizens’ oversight committee will be appointed to monitor and report to the community on all bond expenditures.

The oversight committee, composed of local residents, will ensure that all bond funds are spent as planned for the benefit of local elementary and high school students. 

The district has been successful with bond funds in the past. The district completed all projects promised to voters in 2004 and the district also secured almost $14 million in state matching and joint use funds. If Measure Y is successful, the district will be eligible additional matching funds from the state.

Measure Y provides local control and funding, and increases the number of classrooms for our student population. Quality schools protect and enhance our property values and our community. 

Please vote yes on Measure Y.

Sue Burton lives in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. She is a member of the Konocti Unified School District Board of Trustees.