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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Pacific Gas and Electric reminds customers that sparks – and not just the romantic kind – can fly on Feb. 14 if improperly secured helium-filled metallic balloons come in contact with power lines.

Customers celebrating the holiday with metallic balloons should ensure they’re tied securely to a weight that’s heavy enough to prevent them from floating away.

Last year, metallic balloons striking electric lines caused 429 power outages in PG&E’s service area alone, disrupting electric service to more than 200,000 homes and businesses.

In PG&E’s Humboldt Division, there were seven outages caused by metallic balloons in the past year. Service to more than 4,000 customers were affected. None of them were in Mendocino or Lake counties.

“Let your heart soar on Valentine’s Day, but keep metallic balloons close to the ground. When they come in contact with power lines, these balloons can cause power outages and safety issues,” said Carl Schoenhofer, senior manager of PG&E’s Humboldt Division.

PG&E urges families celebrating with balloons to follow these important safety tips:

· “Look Up and Live!” Use caution and avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead electric lines.

· Make sure helium-filled metallic balloons are securely tied to a weight that is heavy enough to prevent them from floating away. Never remove the weight.

· Keep metallic balloons indoors, when possible. For everyone's safety, never permit metallic balloons to be released outside.

· Do not bundle metallic balloons together.

· Never attempt to retrieve any type of balloon, kite or toy that becomes caught in a power line. Leave it alone, and immediately call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.

· Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Stay far away, keep others away and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday Kelseyville’s high school wrestling team sent three partial squads to Ukiah High School for the Redwood Empire Classic wrestling tournament.   

Three boys varsity wrestlers entered the competition.

Alex Garcia (140 lbs.) was the third-ranked wrestler in the North Coast Section,  or NCS, and No. 1 seed, finished the runnerup in a 16-man bracket, losing a decision to the non-NCS opponent Zack Hancock from Sutter Union HS, 4-3 decision. 

Bryan Carrillo (170 lbs.) came into the tournament unseeded and made a splash by pinning the second-seeded wrestler from Sutter Union, following it up by pinning the third-seeded wrestler in the semifinals match.

Carrillo faced the No. 1 seed and No. 3 NCS ranked wrestler, Cody Shepard of Ukiah High School, who won by a pin in the finals match.    

Javante Gregoire (182 lbs.) also entered the tournament unseeded and came away with a sixth place medal after dropping the fifth-place medal match 1-0 to a wrestler from Del Norte High School.

All three Kelseyville High boys varsity wrestlers are in their sophomore season. 

Three Kelseyville High Lady Knights entered the all girls bracket. 

Korbyn Marlin-Ambriz (101 lbs.) finished second place and posted a 2-1 record for the day.  

Melanie Guerrero (134 lbs.) finished the day with a 1-2 record, just shy of a medal.

Brianna Christian (235 lbs.) finished the day 3-1 and brought home a second-place medal.

The Lady Knights are gearing up for the Girls NCS tournament this weekend at Albany High School.

“We've had a solid season with our whole team as have been battling some injuries but we're hoping to have a strong showing with our ladies this weekend,” said Head Coach Adam Garcia.

Garcia said the team has one returning NCS placer from last season. Four of the female wrestlers earned a seeding at the tournament: Kylie Marlin-Ambriz (101 lbs.), sixth seed; Bailey Huggins (121 lbs.), sixth seed; Jasmin Clark (191 lbs.), second seed and a returning third placer; and Brianna Cristian (235 lbs.), fourth seed.  

Three boys entered the junior varsity level tournament, led by Michael Beverlin finishing in first place in a round robin bracket with a 4-1 record.  

Christopher Perkin (154 lbs.) did not place and Liam Terrell (220 lbs.) finished in second place with 3-1 record on the day.  

The boys team will be competing in the NCS team duals tournament Saturday at Lower Lake High School.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Mary Agnes Rothfuss-Kingsley entered into rest in Sonora at the age of 92.

Born in Omaha, Neb., she lived in Santa Cruz County in the early 1950s before moving to Lake County in 1978.

For Mary, her religion was No. 1 with her family centered around her as the main focus in her life.

She was a very active member of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church. She worked at the Noble Realty and Shore Line Realty for more than 30 years.

Mary was known to her many friends as a formidable woman. With family as the center of her life, she needed to see or talk with at least one of her children each and every day.

Mary is survived by her son, Larry Rothfuss and wife, Ausilia “Zizi”; daughters, Janice Maschek and husband, Al; and twins, Marilyn Brown and husband, Pat and Carolyn King; and a step-sister, Joyce Pegg; along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

She will also be missed by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Merton “Chips” Rothfuss, then later by her second husband, Francis Kingsley.

Friends and family are invited to Queen of Peace Catholic Church where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 9, beginning at 11 a.m.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life which will be held at the family home following the Mass of Christian Burial.

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel.

Please share your loving and caring memories of Mary by signing her online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .

SACRAMENTO – To help Californians increase earnings and social mobility, the California Community Colleges, California Workforce Development Board and California Workforce Association have joined forces to roll out Partnerships that Unlock Social Mobility.

A series of 17 events will take place around the state to bring together community college Student Services departments with America’s Jobs Centers of California staff to explore how to better connect their services and serve their communities as described in this introductory video.

Only 39 percent of California’s residents starting in the bottom half of national earnings move up 10 or more percentiles over 10 years, reports The Pew Charitable Trusts. In certain regions of California, residents face an even greater inherent barrier.

Research, however, has consistently shown that education and training can shatter barriers. A Brookings report reveals that of those born into the bottom income quintile in the United States and move forward to earn a college degree, only 16 percent remain in the bottom quintile.

As a result, the California Community Colleges, California Workforce Development Board and California Workforce Association are pooling their respective strengths and resources to make education and training – and therefore, greater earnings and social mobility -- more accessible.

“When people want to get back on their feet or move beyond their current work situation, we want no wrong door,” said Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Economic Development Van Ton-Quinlivan. “A stronger partnership between these institutions can bring together complimentary resources to help students and clients in our communities.”

Attendees of the conversation series will explore the intersections of three initiatives designed to spur student success – California’s Student Success Act of 2012, the national Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) of 2014 and California’s Strong Workforce Program of 2016 – and start to formulate a common lexicon and unifying alignment among them.

“This type of innovative partnership is in alignment with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act,” said Bob Lanter, executive director of the California Workforce Association. “The organizations that are involved are working collaboratively to build a highly interactive agenda for these events to ensure that we all deliver the best possible services.”

Tim Rainey, executive director of the California Workforce Development Board said, "Colleges and workforce boards have strong and particular expertise. Working together, they fill each other's gaps and complement each other's strengths. They are better together."

“Last year, the California Workforce Development Board adopted a WIOA State Plan that emphasizes regional planning and coordination with community colleges, and the California legislature appropriated $200 million for the community college’s Strong Workforce Program, and called for alignment of regional planning among community colleges and workforce boards,” said to Bryan Wilson, state policy director of the National Skills Coalition. “Continuing their impressive collaboration, [this is] a capacity-building initiative between local workforce development boards and community colleges.”

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 113 colleges serving 2.1 million students a year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills education in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions.

For more information about the community colleges, please visit http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu , https://www.facebook.com/CACommColleges or https://twitter.com/CalCommColleges .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A number of Lake County roads have been impacted by the heavy storm overnight.

The Lake County Department of Public Works issued a roundup of current road closures and advisories, which is posted below.

The agency reported that flooding, downed trees and mudslides have caused closures of several county-maintained roads.

A list of storm-impacted Napa County roads, compiled from the Napa County Sheriff's Office, also is included.

All closures were in effect as of 10 a.m.

CLEARLAKE OAKS

• Twin Valley Road: Closed due to mudslide.

COBB

• Anderson Springs Road: Slide blocking the roadway – crews are in route.
• Deiner Drive: Trees down blocking the roadway.
• Rose Anderson Road: Slide blocking the roadway – crews in route.
• Salamina Road: Trees down blocking the roadway.
• Socrates Mine Road: Road slip out at MPM 3.8. Down to one lane in this area.

KELSEYVILLE

• Argonaut Road: Closed to through traffic from Thomas Drive to Big Valley Road due to flooding.
• Bell Hill Road: Closed at Adobe Creek Low water crossing.
• Clark Drive: Closed from Soda Bay Road to Gaddy Lane due to flooding.

LAKEPORT

• Hill Road: Effective immediately Hill Road, between Sutter Lakeside Hospital entrance and Lakeshore Blvd due to mudslides across the roadway.
• Scotts Valley Road: Closed at Hendricks Road due to flooding.
• South Main Street: Flooding across the roadway at the transfer station.

NICE

• Lakeshore Drive: Closed from Hammond Ave to Stokes Ave due to flooding.

UPPER LAKE

• Bartlett Springs Road: Four-wheel drive recommended.
• Elk Mountain Road: Roadway closed at MPM 29.6 due to road washout. No estimate of when road will be reopened.
• Elk Mountain Road: Four-wheel drive recommended from Upper Lake to Lake Pillsbury.
• Scotts Valley Road: Closed at Highway 20 due to flooding.

NAPA COUNTY

• Big Ranch Rd from Rose Lane to Oak Knoll Ave is closed due to flooding.

• Deer Park Road between Highway 29 and Silverado Trail is closed due to flooding.

• 4450 block of Dry Creek Road closed in both directions due to a downed tree. Crews on scene.

• Highway 29 at Mee Lane is flooded. The road is still open but traffic is very slow. Drive with caution.

• Oak Knoll Ave from Big Ranch Rd to Silverado Trail is closed due to flooding.

• Oakville Cross Road is now closed due to flooding.

• Silverado Trail at Trancas Street is closed due to flooding and rapidly rising water.

UKIAH, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Clear Lake Cardinals sent three boys to the Redwood Empire Classic and two girls to the Redwood Empire Lady Classic held at Ukiah High School.

Frankie Sturr, or “Frangooch” as he is known by his team, won the gold medal, going 3-0 with three pins in the 134-pound JV Boys division.

Hayden Eastham went 1-2 with one pin to take fourth place in the 129-pound JV Boys division.

Thomas Lairson also wrestled for the Cardinals in the 122-pound JV Boys division.

In the girls varsity division, Mackenzie Markham went 1-2 with one pin at 103 pounds. Madi Ferguson (126 lbs.) took a hard fall against the No. 2 seed and was pull from the tournament.

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