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Innovation solutions to everyday problems is strongly encouraged at Caltrans.
In the San Diego area – innovation was disguised as a herd of goats.
Caltrans used the National Fire Prevention Association’s fire prevention week (Oct. 9-15) for a pilot program to use goats to remove brush.
The steepness of the slope at Interstate 8 and Puetz Valley Road in Alpine poses a risk of injury for human workers. Goats are sure-footed for this kind of terrain.
The goats were also used as part of an Integrated Vegetation Management Program with hydro-seed to compete against weeds and promote the growth of native vegetation. This approach lessens soil erosion and reduces the need for herbicides.
In the Caltrans News Flash above, spokesman Hayden Manning speaks with Johnny Gonzalez, the proprietor of Environmental Land Management, who explains the advantages of using goats to remove non-native vegetation and create fire breaks.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Jan. 21 field trip hosted by the Redbud Audubon Society will be to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge and the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge in the Sacramento Valley.
Carpooling is available. Participants leave Lower Lake around 8 a.m. and meet on the east end of the Main Street to park in a place that won’t interfere with merchants in town.
Don’t miss this great opportunity to view a wide variety of migrating wildfowl with expert Audubon birders.
For more information and to make reservations, contact Pat Harmon at 707-263-4977.
Information about the Redbud Audubon Society also is available at www.redbudaudubon.org .
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center presents a pairing of reading, writing and spoken word with the new series, “Poets Read, Poets Write” on Jan. 14, 7 to 9 p.m., and Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Poets share their artistic process and the product of their work revealing the path from creative impulse to completed poem.
Both events feature Clive Matson, lifelong poet and author of the acclaimed “Let The Crazy Child Write!,” along with multiple books of poetry.
Matson has taught creative writing workshops since 1978, centered on his unique Crazy Child method, leading the East Bay Express to laud him as Best Writing Teacher In The East Bay in 2006.
He teaches using 40 years of watching writers blossom with a vibrant intensity they find within themselves, a creative talent they have possessed all along, using the Let the Crazy Child Write! (1998) method from the text of the same name.
Today he spends his time on the sequel, “Writing Your Way In.”
The two-day MAC event begins with a free poetry reading on Saturday, Jan. 14, 7 to 9 p.m., featuring Lake County Poet Laureate Julie Adams along with Matson, Heather Kipnis and Linda Miller reading in a round robin format.
The Writers’ Workshop follows at the MAC on Sunday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Requested donation is $50 or any amount. All levels of experience are welcome and encouraged. This workshop is monthly through May.
Proceeds from the reading help support the Middletown Art Center, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring every child and adult to express themselves and grow through the arts and arts exposure. MAC is committed to contributing to the local economy and sustainability of our community. Join us in supporting the South Lake County writing and art scene!
MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown. Visit www.middletownartcenter.org to learn more about exhibitions, classes, events, volunteer opportunities and membership.
MAC is a project of EcoArts of Lake County a nonprofit 501c3. All donations to MAC are tax-deductible.
The U.S. Postal Service’s new Love Skywriting Forever stamp image was replicated by a skywriting pilot linked to iconic aviator Charles Lindbergh at at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino.
This new stamp is a cheerful and romantic continuation of the U.S. Postal Service’s Love stamp series.
The Love Skywriting stamp will add a romantic touch to letters and cards, not only on Valentine’s Day, but all year round.
The stamp art depicts the word “Love” written in white cursive script against a blue sky with wispy clouds and the edges of the letters just beginning to blur.
Underlining the word is a decorative swirl of smoke that emphasizes the message. A small, stylized plane, dwarfed by the giant letters, completes the end of the swirl, with smoke trailing from its tail.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With a break in the weather arriving on Wednesday, some local roadways that had been closed because of the rain and flooding were reopened, while some others are to remain closed due to needed repairs or persistent high water levels.
On Wednesday, Highway 175 between Cobb and Middletown reopened, although a portion of it from 2.8 miles east to 7.8 miles east of the junction of Highway 29 was under traffic control due to downed power lines, according to Caltrans.
In Lakeport, the receding waters allowed the Lakeport Public Works Department to reopen Martin Street from Russell Street to Forbes Street.
The following road closure information, updated as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, is compiled from agencies including the California Highway Patrol, Lakeport Police Department, Lake County Public Works, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and the Napa County Sheriff's Office.
LAKE COUNTY
CLEARLAKE OAKS
Twin Valley Road: Closed due to mudslide.
COBB
Big Canyon Road: Closed from Ettawa Springs Road to Harbin Road due to multiple mudslides.
Socrates Mine Road: Road slip out at MPM 3.8. Down to one lane in this area.
LAKEPORT
Highland Springs Road: Flooding across the roadway in multiple locations from Highway 29 to Merritt Road.
Hill Road: Closed between the Sutter Lakeside Hospital entrance and Lakeshore Boulevard due to mudslides across the roadway.
Mathews Road: Mathews Road is closed at Highway 175 due to a bridge replacement project.
Scotts Valley Road: Closed from Hendricks Road to Highway 20 due to flooding.
UPPER LAKE
Bartlett Springs Road: Four-wheel drive recommended.
Elk Mountain Road: Roadway closed at mile post marker 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.
Laurel Dell Road: Closed at Mid Lake Road due to flooding.
Scotts Valley Road: Closed from Hendricks Road to Highway 20 due to flooding.
Witter Springs Road: Closed due to flooding.
NAPA COUNTY
Diamond Mountain Road: Closed 1.5 miles west of Highway 29 due to down power line. PG&E has been notified.
Highway 121: Closed at Wooden Valley Road due to a downed tree.
Reopened: Silverado Trail from Dunaweal Road to Larkmead Road, Lodi Lane and Oakville Cross Road.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's sandbag supply is starting to be replenished as a break in the weather arrives.
Many local businesses continue to offer for sale sandbags, sand or both.
This list below, compiled by Lake County News, includes locations where sand, sandbags or both are available. In some cases, where they are out of sandbags, we have included information on when more are due to arrive.
Mendo Mill in Lakeport reported on Wednesday that they had received a large shipment of 1,000 sandbags, which are sold for $0.67 each or $11.99 for a pack of 25.
The list is being updated as new information is received. If we've missed something, email us at
LAKE COUNTY SANDBAG REPORT
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11.
CLEARLAKE
City of Clearlake Corporation Yard, next to Pierce Field airport
(Access off of Old Highway 53, between storage and Valley Glass)
Sand available, no sandbags.
Four Corners Builders Supply
14975 Olympic Drive
Telephone: 707-994-6277
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Out of sandbags as of Monday; reordering, more expected to arrive by Thursday.
Mendo Mill, Clearlake
5255 Old Highway 53
Telephone: 707-994-1014
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
New shipment of sandbags have arrived; the bags cost $0.67 each or $11.99 for a pack of 25.
Sand available in $60 pound bags for $3 to $4 per bag.
CLEARLAKE OAKS
Clearlake Lava
14572 E. Highway 20
Telephone: 707-998-1115
Hours: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Sand only; cost is $14/yard
KELSEYVILLE
Kelseyville Lumber
3555 N. Main St.
Telephone: 707-279-4297
Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Both sand and sandbags available.
Eight new pallets of filled sandbags arrived on Tuesday, selling for $2.98 each.
There is still plenty of sand and empty bags for those who want to fill the bags themselves; to fill your own sandbag, the cost is $1.49 each.
LAKEPORT
Mendo Mill, Lakeport
2465 S. Main St.
Telephone: 707-263-8400
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
New shipment of 1,000 sandbags received on Wednesday. The bags cost $0.67 each or $11.99 for a pack of 25.
No sand.
Rainbow Agricultural Services
1975 Argonaut Road, Lakeport
Telephone: 707-279-0550
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Plastic bags: $0.49 each.
No sand.
RB Peters
78 Soda Bay Road
Telephone: 707-263-3678
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Sand only: $35/yard or $1/five-gallon bucket
MIDDLETOWN
Hardesters
21088 Calistoga St.
Telephone: 707-987-2325
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday
Out of utility sand, has bags of play sand left for $5.49 per 50 pound bag.
Out of sandbags; more ordered and will arrive on Thursday afternoon.
NICE
Lake Builders Supply
3694 E. Highway 20
Telephone: 707-274-6607
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Limited amounts of “play sand” left; 50 pound bag – $6, 100 pound bag – $12.49.
Out of sandbags; no estimate of when more will be available.