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 Manzanita Road to the junction of Route 53 will continue. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-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

– Fog sealing operations from Ackley Road to the Lakeport Boulevard Overcrossing will begin Sunday, August 14. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 53

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work near mile marker 10 beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work between Dry Creek and Cry Creek Road beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Valley Fire recovery work between Middletown and Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Mowing operations between Albion and the north limits of Elk will begin Tuesday, August 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Mowing operations between Ward Avenue and Beach Access Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-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.

– Sign work between the El Roble Overcrossing and the junction with Route 253 will begin Wednesday, Aug. 17. A northbound lane closure will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 101

– Rumble strip installation between Uva Drive and one half-mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will begin Monday, Aug. 15. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdows.

– Sign work near Reeves Canon Road will begin Wednesday, August 17. A southbound lane closure will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.

– The city of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work related to their water main project between Sherwood Road and Casteel Lane beginning Friday, Aug. 12. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.

– Rumble strip installation at various locations between Willits and Confusion Hill will begin Monday, Aug. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Paving operations between Sherwood Road and 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.

– 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 five-minute delays.

Highway 128

– Drainage work from 2.5 to 7 miles east of the junction with Route 1 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 162

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform tree work between the Long Valley Creek Bridge and Short Creek Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Paving operations between East Lane Road and Short Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Paving operations between the Anderson Creek Bridge and Slide Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.

– 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).

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club has rescheduled its August meeting due to the Lower Lake fires on Tuesday.

Instead, the club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, in the Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church social hall, 16255 Second St., Lower Lake.

Guest speakers will be Mitch Markowitz, Konocti Unified School District Board member, and his guest Tom Hoskins, human resources/local control and accountability plan director; and Middletown Unified School Board candidate Sean Millerick.

The usual business meeting will be dispensed with in order to accommodate these speakers.

The Lake County Democratic Club is an officially chartered club of the Democratic Party of Lake County.

All meetings are open to the public. Membership is open to registered Democrats.

Visit www.lakecountydemocraticclub.org or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The thunder of very high performance boats, the gleam of beautiful vehicles and veterans will come together on Saturday, Aug. 13, in Lakeport’s Library Park as the 2016 Lakeside Car & Boat Show celebrates a fun day in honor of those who have served.

High-performance boat runs on Clear Lake and a salute to veterans along with some great vendors, local beer, food and beautiful pin-up ladies are all part of a fund raiser for Operation Tango Mike.

The event starts at 8 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. and is free to the public.

Very high performance boats will make demonstration passes from the Fifth Street boat launch in the morning while vehicles and boats from as far away as Los Angeles and Washington state descend on Lakeport and sparkle in the sun.

“The city of Lakeport and county of Lake, the sheriff’s office and Lakeport Police Department have bent over backwards to help make this event happen,” said co-promoter Tony Barthel.

It all kicks off Friday, Aug. 12, at Bicoastal Media’s Concert in the Park featuring the band Decades. A large number of participants have committed to enjoy the music followed by “A Night of Fire” where alcohol-fueled boats will start up and shoot blue flames into the night sky.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, the show goes on with vehicles lining the streets and boats taking to the water around Library Park. A special lane has been designated on Clear Lake coordinated by the Coast Guard Auxiliary allowing these extreme boats to show what they can do – the fastest one will earn a trophy.

In addition, there will be a “cacklefest” where boats are measured for sound by Sheriff Brian Martin who will award one boat for the loudest engine. In fact Lake County businesses have stepped up with dozens of trophies for vehicles and boats of all kinds along with some first-rate raffle prizes.

All funds raised during this event will be donated to Operation Tango Mike which sends care packages to troops serving overseas. Raffle prizes and photos with pin ups are the show will raise money for this charity.

“We have so many high-value vehicles registered we have a special parking lot just for them,” said the show’s co-promoter Dave Lakatos, referring to the Third Street parking lot where extreme value vehicles will be parked.

In addition, there will be military vehicles as well as an incredible variety of other cars and trucks along with boats as well. 

There is no charge for the public to attend this show and there will be a rock climbing wall, face painting as well as a variety of food and crafts from local vendors. “Part of our goal was to make this event a showcase for Lake County,” said Barthel in reference to choosing all locally-made food, beer and crafts for the vendors row.

More information as well as vehicle and boat registration can be found at www.curbside.tv .

There is no charge for the public to attend and a nice variety of local vendors, craft beer, a face painter, rock climbing wall and much more will be in Lakeport’s Library Park to enjoy along with beautiful vehicles of all eras, incredible boats all set to the soundtrack of summer by Sounds Like FUN! DJ service.

For information, maps, vehicle registrations, sponsorship opportunities and more visit www.curbside.tv .

SACRAMENTO – July state revenues came in below projections in the 2016-17 Budget Act approved the previous month by $591.3 million, or 9.8 percent, with all three of the state’s main revenue sources falling short of expectations for the first month of the fiscal year, State Controller Betty T. Yee reported today.
 
Retail sales and use taxes missed the mark by the widest margin. Estimated at $907.9 million, they came in at just $694.5 million – 23.5 percent, or $213.5 million, lower.
 
Personal income tax receipts of $4.39 billion were $323.3 million lower than anticipated in the Budget Act, missing estimates by 6.9 percent.

Corporation tax receipts of $227.3 million were $49.5 million below estimates, or 17.9 percent.
 
“The declines in all three revenue categories may be attributable to the slower rate of job growth when compared to 2015,” said Controller Yee, the state’s chief fiscal officer. “However, we should exercise caution by further examining and understanding the possible causes of the revenue shortfalls, as a one-month snapshot is not indicative of an economic trend.”
 
Total disbursements of $10.42 billion were $33.2 million lower than projected.

he state ended the month of July with unused borrowable resources of $30.37 billion, which was $1.38 billion more than expected in the 2016-17 Budget Act.

Outstanding loans of $5.63 billion were $545.5 million higher than projected. This loan balance consists of borrowing from the state’s internal special funds.
 
For more details, read the monthly cash report.

CHESTER, Calif. – Lake Almanor will be the place to be the weekend of Aug. 19 through 21 as they celebrate the extraordinary “dancing” grebes with the inaugural Grebe Festival centered in Chester.

There will be a diverse assortment of activities for all to enjoy during the festival. 

The event will start with a grebe research symposium on Friday for those interested in the more scientific aspect of the grebes, their ecology and conservation. 

Later in the evening, folks can partake in the beer stroll around Old Towne Chester to benefit Plumas Audubon Society and partner sponsor, Feather River Land Trust.

Saturday and Sunday will be filled with activities for all ages and interests. 

Choose from a wide variety of events: pontoon and kayak tours, field trips to Chester Meadows, historic Olsen Barn property, Willow Lake, north fork of Feather River, and Humbug Valley, or Tasmam Koyom as the Maidu call it. 

There also will be crafts and nature activities in the Almanor Recreation Center, 400 Meadowbrook Loop, Chester, for fun and education.

Some of these family activities will be geared toward children, and there are also field trips and a picnic day geared toward youngsters.

The purpose of the Grebe Festival is to celebrate the conservation of these charismatic and interesting birds while at the same time giving people a chance to enjoy themselves.

The field trips and events that Plumas Audubon has planned will cover many aspects of nature enjoyment and some also have historical significance. 

All of the trips will offer the chance to see Lake Almanor Basin’s wide diversity of bird life including sandhill cranes, bald eagles, osprey, pelicans, phalaropes and other shorebirds. 

Several of these trips offer the opportunity to learn about this area’s deep connection with the Maidu culture and pioneer life. 

All of the trips offer the chance to get close to, and learn about, many aspects of nature enjoyment such as dragonfly watching, field journaling, insects and plants.

If you cannot make it to a field trip, there will be two documentary movies, "The Messenger" and “Searching for the Gold Spot,” offered Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at the Mount Lassen Theater in Chester, and continuing programs at the Almanor Rec Center such as "How to Draw a Better Bird," and a silent auction for some beautiful bird art, including some Bill Peters prints.

A youth art exhibit with original artwork from our Grebe Festival Art Contest will adorn the walls of the Almanor Rec Center during the festival.

Registration is now open. Some of the field trips require a fee. Everyone is asked to pre-register. 

Check out the fieldtrips and activities at www.plumasaudubon.org/grebe-festival .

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – More than 200,000 crashes involved debris on U.S. roadways during the past four years, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Road debris has resulted in approximately 39,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths between 2011 and 2014. AAA is calling for drivers to properly secure their loads to prevent dangerous debris.
 
AAA researchers examined common characteristics of crashes involving road debris and found that nearly 37 percent of all deaths in road debris crashes resulted from the driver swerving to avoid hitting an object. Overcorrecting at the last minute to avoid debris can increase a driver’s risk of losing control of their vehicle and make a bad situation worse.
 
More than one in three crashes involving debris occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a time when many people are on the road hauling or moving heavy items like furniture or construction equipment. Debris-related crashes are much more likely to occur on Interstate highways. Driving at high speeds increases the risk for vehicle parts to become detached or cargo to fall onto the roadway.
 
“These new reports show that road debris can be extremely dangerous, but also indicate that these crashes are preventable,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Drivers can easily save lives and prevent injuries by securing their loads and taking other simple precautions to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.”
 
About two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the result of items falling from a vehicle due to improper maintenance and unsecured loads.

Crashes involving vehicle related-debris increased 40 percent since 2001, when the Foundation first studied the issue.

The most common types of vehicle debris are:

– Parts becoming detached from a vehicle (tires, wheels, etc.) and falling onto the roadway.
– Unsecured cargo like furniture, appliances and other items falling onto the roadway.
– Tow trailers becoming separated and hitting another vehicle or landing on the roadway.
 
Drivers can decrease their chances of being involved in a road debris crash by:
 
Maintaining vehicles: Drivers should have their vehicles checked regularly by trained mechanics. Badly worn or underinflated tires often suffer blowouts that can leave pieces of tire on the roadway. Exhaust systems and the hardware that attach to the vehicle can also rust and corrode, causing mufflers and other parts to drag and eventually break loose. Potential tire and exhaust system problems can easily be spotted by trained mechanics as part of the routine maintenance performed during every oil change.

Securing vehicle loads: When moving or towing furniture, it is important to make sure all items  
are secured. To properly secure a load, drivers should:

·        Tie down load with rope, netting or straps
·        Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer
·        Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting
·        Don’t overload the vehicle
·        Always double check load to make sure a load is secure
 
“Drivers have a much bigger responsibility when it comes to preventing debris on the roads than most realize,” added Harris. “It’s important for drivers to know that many states have hefty fines and penalties for drivers who drop items from their vehicle onto the roadway, and in some cases states impose jail time.”
 
Currently every state has laws that make it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle while on the road. Most states’ penalties result in fines ranging from $10-$5,000, with at least 16 states listing jail as a possible punishment for offenders.

AAA encourages drivers to educate themselves about specific road debris laws in their state. Drivers should also practice defensive driving techniques while on the road to prevent debris related crashes from occurring.
 
“Continually searching the road at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead can help drivers be prepared in the case of debris,” continued Harris. “Always try to maintain open space on at least one side of your vehicle in case you need to steer around an object. If you see you are unable to avoid debris on the roadway, safely reduce your speed as much as possible before making contact.”
 
AAA also recommends that drivers avoid tailgating and remain alert while on the road.  Additional tips on defensive driving and how to report road debris to the proper authorities are available online at www.AAA.com/PreventRoadDebris .
 
Established by AAA in 1947, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, publicly-supported charitable educational and research 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.

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

Even though California gas prices remain the highest in the nation, abundant supplies of gasoline have contributed to starkly lower gas prices statewide during this summer driving season.

This week's state prices are registering at $ 2.66 on average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline-that’s $0.22 less than prices since AAA Northern California’s latest monthly gas survey of July 12.
 
Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.63 – that’s $0.19 less than last month’s AAA reported price on July 12. The highest recorded price ever registered in the state of California was in October 2012, at $4.67 a gallon for unleaded regular.
    
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville, where regular unleaded gasoline is $2.25 per gallon. Of all metro areas tracked by AAA in Northern California, San Francisco, registering at $2.83 per gallon of unleaded regular, and South Lake Tahoe at $2.91 per gallon, are showing the two highest gas prices.

“With gasoline supplies high and oil prices low, pump prices are likely to remain relatively cheap through the remainder of the summer and into the fall,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Provided the next month does not bring a major market-moving event, like a major hurricane or escalating geopolitical tensions overseas, prices are likely to remain at relatively low levels.”
 
West Coast pumps feature both the highest prices in the country and the most dramatic yearly savings. The largest year-over-year declines in the nation are seen in California (-95 cents).

Contributing to these substantial yearly savings is the fact that there have been relatively few refinery issues this summer compared to a number of regional issues in the summer of 2015.

The national average price of gas has held relatively steady over the past week and has declined on just one of the past four days. The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.12 per gallon, which is the lowest price for this date since 2004.

Strong global oil production and a strengthening U.S. dollar have contributed to West Texas Intermediate crude oil trading near lows not seen since Spring.

Recent news suggests that OPEC may again consider production limits by cartel members in an effort to boost oil prices by curbing supply.

Similar efforts earlier this year were unsuccessful, as members opted to preserve market share by maintaining production, which has preserved the global state of oversupply and resulted in low oil prices.

If OPEC members agree to limit production, crude oil prices could again rise as demand moves into balance with supply.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX WTI was down 13 cents to settle at $41.80 per barrel.  

To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also help conserve gasoline.

AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.

AAA Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to more than 4.5 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded 116 years ago.