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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sen. Mike McGuire is helping to lead the way on a new Senate Environmental Protection Legislative Package introduced to shield California from potential harmful changes in federal law.

California is home to 45 million acres of federal Wildlands which feature millions of acres of forest, scenic rivers and watersheds –  which is the drinking source for millions of residents – open spaces and the rugged California coast.

“The threat from the Trump Administration to our federal public lands is real and the consequences are great if the state doesn’t advance proactive policies to protect the Golden State’s treasured natural resources,” Sen. Mike McGuire said. “Our federal Wildlands and National Parks are America’s gathering grounds, our nation’s backyard. These bills will help protect the 45 million acres of federal lands that exist in California from devastating strip mines along with invasive oil and gas drilling.”

Sen. McGuire represents seven counties in Northern California, including Lake, with 3.3 million acres of federal lands exist in the North Coast district.

The North Coast has, in fact, more federal lands than any other area in California, McGuire said.

These public lands protect sensitives species, are valuable for carbon sequestration, are a source of drinking water and are one of the largest economic drivers for rural communities thanks to the tourism they draw.

“California has the most to lose under the dangerous policies of President Trump,” McGuire said.

McGuire also pointed out that 45.8 million acres – or 45 percent – of California is federal land.

Additional details related to the legislative package can be found below. In the press conference video above, McGuire speaks at the 11:30 mark.

PROPOSAL DETAILS

SB 49: The California Environmental Defense Act

· Makes current federal clean air, climate, clean water, worker safety, and endangered species standards enforceable under state law, even if the federal government rolls back and weakens those standards. 

· Directs state environmental, public health, and worker safety agencies to take all actions within their authorities to ensure standards in effect and being enforced today continue to remain in effect.

· Federal laws in these areas set “baselines,” but allow states to adopt more stringent standards. This bill simply ensures CA does not backslide as a result of rollbacks and damage done by the new regime in Washington DC.

· In 2003, when the Bush Administration attempted to enact similar rollbacks of federal clean air standards, the Legislature passed SB 288 (Chapter 476 statutes of 2003), the Protect CA Air Act. This measure builds on that platform.

SB 50: The Public Lands Protection Act

· This measure establishes a new state policy to discourage conveyances of federal lands to private developers for resource extraction and directs the state Lands Commission, which oversees much of the federal lands in the state, to establish a right of first refusal by the state of any federal lands proposed for sale or conveyance to other parties.

· In doing so, this measure would ensure (a) that the state reviews any transactions involving federal lands here in CA to ensure those lands are protected, and (b) where feasible, important lands are protected via state action.

SB 51: The Whistleblower and Public Data Protection Act

· Attorneys, engineers, scientists and other professionals working for federal agencies are often licensed to practice in California. US EPA attorneys and scientists who report cover ups, destruction of information, or other wrongdoing may have federal whistleblower protection but could still lose their professional certifications under California law.

· This measure would ensure federal employees do not lose state licensure for revealing violations of law, unethical actions or dangers to public health and safety. It also would direct state environmental and public health agencies to protect any information or data under state law, even if parties in Washington DC order their censorship or destruction.

· In 2003, the Legislature passed a similar law to provide state whistleblower protections (see AB 2713 of 2002).  That bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 25, the docents and volunteers of the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcome Richard Schmidt, award-winning artist and author, to the latest “Living History Day.”

The event takes place from noon to 2 p.m. at the stage stop, located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near the Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29 at Kit's Corner.

Admission is free and refreshments are furnished by the Ely volunteers. As always, donations are gratefully accepted.

Schmidt, a longtime resident of Lake County, will share some readings and stories of local interest.

On the fourth Saturday of each month local historians come to the Ely Stage Stop to visit with guests and answer questions regarding different aspects of Lake County history.

The visits are video recorded, preserving the stories of Lake County's history for future generations.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Due to recent road closures leading to the Lakeport Unified School District campuses, those dropping off students are requested to take several actions in the short-term.

City and school district officials ask that community members taking children to school do the following:

– Please make an effort to drop your child off at school any time after 7:30 a.m. and before 8 a.m. This will reduce the amount of traffic coming onto campus immediately before school begins and help ensure students arrive to school on time.
– Note that you can also use the north entrance into the campus via Howard Avenue and exit that way as well to help reduce the congestion on Giselman and Lange streets.
– Whenever possible, send your child on the school buses to reduce the traffic flow.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 18, the Clear Lake Cardinals hosted this year’s Boy’s Coastal Mountain Conference (CMC) Championship Wrestling Tournament.

The top three placers in each weight division advance to the Boy’s North Coast Sections (NCS) Championships.

The Cardinals entered three wrestlers into the CMC tournament and one advanced.

Ozod Ermatov (138 lbs.) won the bronze medal and the chance to advance to the NSC tournament on Feb. 24.

A senior, first year wrestler and foreign exchange student, Ermatov gave it everything he had.

In his first match he would fall to the No. 1 seed, eventual champion and outstanding middleweight wrestler from Kelseyville.

Then, Ermatov would come back in a hard-fought decision battle to beat the No. 3 seed from Willits and win the bronze medal.

Frankie Sturr (126 lbs.), another senior and first-year wrestler, won fourth place, just short of advancing to the NCS tournament.

Sturr had some tough matches along the way and some very questionable calls, but he fought to the end of each match.

First up Sturr would fall to the No. 2 seed from Willits. After having him flat on his back, it was not to go Sturr’s way.

Still bound and determined even after injuring his knee in the previous match, Sturr continued on to pin his next opponent from Kelseyville, in another physical match.  Then, in one more exciting battle, Sturr would fall to the eventual bronze medalist from Lower Lake.  

After missing his weight, Freshman Thomas Lairson decided to wrestle up at (132 lbs.). He gave it all he had, but was just too much to overcome.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Salvation Army has started a meal service at the emergency evacuation center for Lake County residents who have been affected by the flooding.

A team from The Salvation Army Napa Corps will provide meal service and spiritual support at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lakeport, 1111 Park Way. 

Local Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services management plans for meals to be served through Monday afternoon, and staff will continue to assess if further assistance will be needed for the foreseeable future.

Monetary donations are only needed at this time. The Salvation Army uses 100-percent of disaster donations in support of local disaster relief operations.

To give, visit www.gosalarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate “Disaster Services.”

Donations by mail may be designated “Disaster Services” and sent to: The Salvation Army, PO Box 348000, Sacramento, CA 95834.

In-kind donations are not currently being accepted outside the disaster area. However, these gifts are vitally important to your local Salvation Army. To give items locally, visit www.SATruck.com or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.

Joan Linnell
March 6, 1950 - Valentine's Day 2017

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Celebration of life will be held at Buckingham Club House on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m.

If you can, please bring a side dish to share.