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WILLITS, Calif. – Frank Howard Memorial Hospital is now recognized as one of 11 Level IV trauma centers in the state.
Sonoma County Emergency Services has approved Howard Memorial Hospital as a Level IV trauma center effective Dec. 1.
Accreditation as a Level IV trauma center indicates a hospital staff’s ability to provide advanced trauma life support prior to transfer of patients to a higher level trauma center.
Trauma centers provide evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients.
The only other trauma center in Mendocino County is Ukiah Valley Medical Center, a 20- to 30-minute drive from Willits. But depending on weather conditions, sometimes the drive can be treacherous or even impassable during the winter season.
“Earning this designation means patients in Willits and beyond who are seeking care at Howard Memorial Hospital will be cared for in a standardized manner to assure they are receiving the best care possible for their injuries sustained,” said Dr. Michael Medvin, the hospital's chief medical officer for emergency services.
“Having us close by to stabilize patients and give them life-saving procedures will improve their health outcomes. We also work directly with Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital to rapidly transport any trauma patient requiring a higher level of care. We also have the ability to share CT Scans/X-rays with the trauma surgeon at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital while we are on the phone with them, which means seamless communication and improved outcomes,” Medvin said.
Amy Buckingham, the hospital's emergency services manager, said that their goal is to strive to improve the care of injured patients before, during, and after hospitalization.
“Our goal is to serve the needs of our community so they don’t have to go too far,” she said. “That’s why we always emphasize continuing education and train with our agency partners so that we know we are constantly striving to provide the best of care.”
Buckingham added, “To qualify as a Level IV trauma center, a hospital must have the protocols, equipment and staff in place to handle trauma patients.”
The Howard Memorial Hospital emergency department also has two trauma rooms, equipped with the best technology and even has access to specialist at UC-Davis Children’s Hospital through telemedicine.
“We’ve got all this technology and with this designation, it will really make a difference for our community,” Buckingham said.
Kevin Erich, interim president and chief executive officer for Howard Memorial Hospital agreed. “We’re extremely proud of our team and our hospital. It took a lot of work to get this designation and we’re excited to serve our patients better. The more we are able to serve their needs here, the better for our community and their health outcomes.”
Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Visit www.howardhospital.org for more information.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Becker family was the happy winner of a customized children's library of books, compliments of the Hero Project.
At the conclusion of the Hero Project's “Read Together and Educate” challenge in November, the Becker family was randomly chosen to receive the grand prize in recognition for completing the challenge.
The challenge urged parents to read to their children at least five times per week for a minimum of 15 minutes each time.
Parents Kira and Chris Becker are both avid readers who have been reading to their two young children since birth.
Their son, Edward, is 4 years old and started preschool this year, while their daughter, Arissa, is only one and a half and already points to pictures in books and identifies the images.
At a recent parent-teacher conference at the pre-school, Mrs. Becker learned that Edward was tested as advanced in reading and math for his age.
This came as no surprise to Kira Becker. She explained that she is carrying on the family tradition of reading to her children daily, a tradition she recalls of her mother reading to her as a child.
Reading to young children helps them learn more about their world, improves their social skills and helps them become strong readers.
The National Institute for Literacy reports that one out of every five children in the U.S. will experience a reading problem in school.
But children who are read to on a regular basis, starting in infancy, are better prepared to learn in school and beyond.
The Hero Project is a program of the Lake County Office of Education that supports parents of young children, ages birth to 8, by presenting parents with activities and parenting tips to improve parent-child relationships and to increase early childhood development.
The program is free and accessed virtually through its Web site, www.lakecountyheroproject.com , through Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram, and through the Hero Project app, which can be downloaded onto mobile devices from iTunes and GooglePlay.
Christine Hutt is communications coordinator for the Lake County Office of Education.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of Middletown Library reported that its children’s library fundraiser has been extended.
The group said the project is ongoing and doing well, and they are now half way to the $10,000 goal.
Funds will be used for replacing children’s and young adults’ books lost in the Valley fire.
The Friends of Middletown Library is matching funds up to $5,000.
Donations are tax-deductible as the group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Send a donation – big or small – to Friends of Middletown Library, PO Box 57, Middletown, CA 95461, or drop off at library.
Everyone who reads this should know who Guy Fieri is. If you don’t, ask anyone and they’ll tell you that he is a world class chef, the host of several hit TV cooking shows, and a restaurateur with outstanding eating establishments all over the world.
What many here in Lake County may not know, is that Guy also calls Lake County home, and he is a very generous supporter of our community.
During the Valley fire, Guy made a point to visit our first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, the prison kitchen crew, and support staff at the command post in Lakeport.
His appearance and words of encouragement went a long way towards motivating these people. It served to reinforce the seriousness of the situation, and to show everyone how important their efforts were to this community. Guy even provided meals and food to the evacuation shelters for those who had been displaced.
This holiday season marks the second year in a row that Guy has personally purchased a truckload of toys and bikes for children right here in Lake County.
Now, when I say a “truckload,” I mean a truckload … literally.
With the help of some very dedicated and caring community members, these bikes and toys were delivered to foster children, children who have been victims or witnesses of crimes, and other needy children in our communities this holiday season.
Guy’s generosity and caring for our community and its children is commendable and very much appreciated.
My purpose for writing this letter is to thank Guy, and to share with this community the great things that he has done, and continues to do for the people of Lake County.
I am proud to call Guy my friend and on behalf of the people of Lake County, I want to thank him for all he does.
Brian Martin is sheriff of Lake County, Calif.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a shelter filled with cats who would like to have homes of their own for this holiday season.
This holiday week's cats include calicoes, tabbies of various colors, a black cat and tuxedos.
Several of the cats are being offered for $10 each – including spay/neuter, vaccination and microchip – thanks to a sponsorship begun last week that so far has resulted in five other cats getting new homes. The cats offered for $10 are noted below. The all-black cat also has been sponsored and is available for free to an approved home.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Shelter_Animal_Search.htm .
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Domestic short hair
This young female tuxedo cat has a short cat and gold eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 7, ID No. 6666.
Male lynx point
This male lynx point has a short coat and blue eyes.
He is offered for adoption for $10.
He's in cat room kennel No. 19, ID No. 6564.
Domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair has a calico coat gold eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 32, ID No. 6687.
'Muchy'
“Muchy” is a gray and white female domestic short hair mix.
She has green eyes and already has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 39, ID No. 6714.
Orange tabby
This orange tabby has a short coat and green eyes.
Shelter staff said he's altered and available for $1 through the barn cat program.
The cat is in cat room kennel No. 43, ID No. 6693.
Domestic short hair
This young female domestic short hair has a black and white coat and gold eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 75a, ID No. 6658.
Domestic short hair
This young male domestic short hair cat has an orange and white coat and gold eyes.
He's in cat room kennel No. 75b, ID No. 6663.
Orange tabby
This orange tabby cat has a short coat and gold eyes.
Shelter staff said the cat is available through its barn cat program for $1.
The cat is in cat room kennel No. 101, ID No. 6717.
Domestic short hair
This young male domestic short hair has an orange tabby coat with white markings and gold eyes.
He's in cat room kennel No. 109a, ID No. 6659.
Domestic short hair
This young male domestic short hair has an all-black coat and gold eyes.
He has been sponsored and is available for free to an approved family.
He's in cat room kennel No. 109b, ID No. 6661.
Domestic short hair
This young female domestic short hair cat has a gray tabby coat and gold eyes.
She is offered for adoption for $10.
She's in cat room kennel No. 112, ID No. 6555.
Orange tabby
This male orange tabby has a short coat and gold eyes. He already has been altered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 119, ID No. 6513.
Domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair has a gray tabby coat and gold eyes.
She is offered for adoption for $10.
She's in cat room kennel No. 120, ID No. 6416.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, reported that the November median sales price and number of sales for single family residences remained steady when compared to October 2016 sales.
The median sales price in November was $255,000, down by 1.9 percent from the October median of $260,000, the association reported. The median sales price year to date, as of Dec. 21, is $237,000.
The number of sales in November was 70 which was 6.7 percent less than the 75 sales reported in October, LCAOR's report said.
On a year-over-year basis, the November 2016 median sales price of $255,000 was up from $252,250 in November 2015. LCAOR said the number of sales was down by 18.6 percent. In November 2015 there were 86 sales compared to the 70 in November 2016.
“Aside from residential sales we have seen an increase in commercial sales in the county,” said newly install 2017 LCAOR President Bobby Dutcher. “The year-to-date dollar volume for commercial sales is $14.2 million and that is up from the $8.5 million in 2015 and $11.8 million in 2014. The three years prior to 2014 averaged $5 million in commercial sales.”
Cash only sales made up 26.7 percent of the financing for residential sales while loan financing accounted for over 64 percent of the sales.
Ten percent of the residential sales could be attributed to distressed property sales, properties that were sold after a foreclosure.
Recently the Fed raised interest rates by 0.25 percent and this will effect mortgage rates for prospective buyers. It is also likely to increase payments on homes that currently have a variable interest rate.
According to NerdWallet interest rates have risen 0.50 percent since the election, but at slightly over 4.0 percent interest rates are still well below 44-year historical average of 8.0 percent.
LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
November 2016
Median price: $255,000
Median days to sell: 82
Units sold: 70
October 2016
Median price: $260,000
Median days to sell: 69
Units sold: 75
November 2015
Median price: $252,250
Median days to sell: 107
Units sold: 86