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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After a nationwide search that drew 42 applications from 26 states, five communities – including Lake County – have been selected to participate in the five-year Way to Wellville challenge.
The challenge sponsor, the Health Initiative Coordinating Council, or HICCup, a nonprofit founded by angel investor Esther Dyson to encourage new models and markets for the production of health, announced the five winners on Friday.
In addition to Lake County, Clatsop County, Oregon; Greater Muskegon, Michigan; Niagara Falls, New York; and Spartanburg, South Carolina, were selected.
The Wellville Five communities will work with HICCup and a network of partners over the next five years to produce visible improvements in five measures of health and economic vitality.
The communities will receive support in the areas of data and measurement, evidence-based health solutions, and innovative financing strategies.
Rigorous evaluation will measure the impact of specific health initiatives, reinforced by a coordinated, community-wide approach, while generating new insights and market opportunities for producing health.
HICCup’s founder, chief executive officer and four-person advisory board selected the Wellville Five from a highly competitive field, beginning with 42 community applications in May and culminating in site visits to 10 finalist communities in July and August.
The group of five was selected based both on each community’s readiness for success and on the group’s diversity in geography, demographics and lead organization.
Lake County, with a population 63,983, will be led by North Coast Opportunities and partners in its efforts over the next five years. They will integrate preventive and clinical health services to address obesity and other chronic physical health issues, substance abuse, and mental and emotional health, while creating new measures to support long-term sustainability and financing.
Clatsop County, Oregon (population 37,301), led by Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization and partners, will focus on chemical dependency, mental health, access to primary care medical homes, employment, obesity and food access, prenatal education and care, and so-called time banking, which lets community members exchange services based on available time, skills and needs.
Greater Muskegon, Michigan (population 79,275), led by Public Health-Muskegon County, will address smoking, adult obesity, post-secondary education, and social/emotional support, by leveraging strong partnerships with the Rotary Club and others already collaborating in Muskegon’s “1 in 21” campaign to become the state’s healthiest county by 2021.
Niagara Falls, New York (population 49,722), led by Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative and partners, aims to improve the social determinants of health, such as transportation, housing and employment; shift culture through greater community engagement; and address teen pregnancy, childhood obesity and other chronic diseases by coordinating community services.
Spartanburg, South Carolina (population 37,238), led by the Mary Black Foundation and partners, will focus on access to care, obesity, kindergarten readiness, and community pride – often referred to as social capital – which is linked to health indicators and the capacity of communities to engage support for initiatives that improve those indicators.
Each of the Wellville Five communities has its own focus, as described above, but all of them, with HICCup’s encouragement, will also work to improve child nutrition, the overall food environment, local social conditions, and the local provision of preventive and chronic disease care.
The journey ahead
“We were looking for five extraordinary communities – and we found many more than that,” said Esther Dyson, HICCup founder. “This is encouraging because the idea is not just to make a measurable difference in five places, but to demonstrate how a comprehensive approach to health can work and be replicated in many other communities around the country.
“Over the next five years, five communities will lean in, with support from diverse stakeholders, citizens, partners and investors, as well as shared learning, to demonstrate the impact of multiple reinforcing health initiatives,” Dyson added. “We’ll be measuring everything to see what makes the greatest impact: from healthier school lunches and better housing, to early childhood education and economic development, to active social networks and workplace wellness.”
To kick off the five-year health challenge, Wellville community leaders will attend HICCup’s Next Step to Wellville conference, Sept. 16 to 18 in Tampa, Florida.
Next Step will introduce community leaders to one another and to innovators in health data, solutions, and financing to explore opportunities for partnerships.
“HICCup and its partners will support the Wellville communities in much the same way that a startup accelerator supports a promising business idea and leadership team,” said HICCup CEO Rick Brush. “In this case, the community is the startup – and the community’s product is health.
“Just like a business startup, the community sets its course, develops its plans, negotiates with suppliers, measures its impact, and changes course as appropriate,” Brush noted. “Along the way, we’ll connect Wellville communities with health and policy experts, solution providers, funders and investors – all with an interest in testing and financing innovative health strategies.”
Greater Wellville
HICCup also announced Friday that is creating a larger network of communities called Greater Wellville.
The effort will allow the 40-plus communities that applied to the Way to Wellville challenge to participate in peer-learning and to engage the HICCup partner network in local opportunities.
In addition to the Wellville Five, five finalist communities that HICCup visited have been invited to participate in Greater Wellville: Clinton County, New York; Columbus/Bartholomew County, Indiana; Oxford County, Maine; Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Winona, Minnesota.
“During our site visits, each of these communities demonstrated strong commitment, outstanding collaboration, and best practices that many other places can learn from,” said Dyson. “We’ve asked them to help us lead the way in expanding interest in health and implementing what works around the country.”
The other communities invited to participate in Greater Wellville are:
- Athens County, Ohio;
- Bangor, Maine;
- Billings, Montana;
- Boothbay Region, Maine;
- Burlington, Vermont;
- Charlotte, Michigan;
- Cheshire County, New Hampshire;
- Garden City/Finney County, Kansas;
- High Point, North Carolina;
- Jackson, Tennessee;
- Kershaw County, South Carolina;
- Kissimmee, Florida;
- Klamath Falls, Oregon;
- La Crosse County, Wisconsin;
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania;
- Lawrence, Massachusetts;
- Lynchburg, Virginia;
- Marion, Ohio;
- Marshall, Minnesota;
- New Ulm, Minnesota;
- Perris, California;
- Sanilac County, Michigan;
- Scranton, Pennsylvania;
- Starkville, Mississippi;
- Susquehanna Valley, Pennsylvania;
- Takoma Park-Silver Spring, Maryland;
- Tuscarawas County, Ohio;
- Union County, Ohio;
- Wenatchee Valley, Washington;
- Wilkes County, North Carolina;
- Yamhill County, Ore.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A vehicle stop earlier this week resulted in one arrest and the seizure of methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription medication.
James Remo Regalia, 31, of San Pablo was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale, sales of marijuana, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
On Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. narcotics detectives were traveling in the area of 35th Avenue and Phillips Avenue in Clearlake when they noticed a white Chevrolet sedan on 34th Avenue approaching the intersection at Phillips Avenue. The vehicle failed to stop at the stop sign before entering the roadway, Brooks said.
As detectives were traveling southbound on Phillips the vehicle made an abrupt left turn onto 32nd Avenue, which has a dirt surface. Brooks said the vehicle quickly accelerated at a high rate of speed in a residential neighborhood, with complete disregard for the safety of the public.
Narcotics detectives attempted to conduct an enforcement stop and started to pursue the vehicle. They terminated the pursuit shortly after due to road conditions, the large amount of dust trailing the suspect vehicle and the risk to public safety, Brooks said.
A sergeant with the Clearlake Police Department located the suspect vehicle and conducted an enforcement stop on Highway 53 near 40th Avenue. Brooks said the narcotics detectives were directly behind the Clearlake Police sergeant and assisted with the enforcement stop.
The driver, identified as Regalia, was instructed to exit the vehicle and as he did, he admitted to having marijuana inside the vehicle, Brooks said.
Brooks said one of the narcotics detectives deployed his narcotics detection canine to conduct a sniff of the vehicle. The canine alerted to the front driver side door and the trunk, indicating there was the odor of a controlled substance present.
Regalia was informed of the canine alerting to his vehicle and was told his vehicle was going to be searched. When asked if he had any additional contraband in the vehicle, Regalia said there was an ounce of methamphetamine on the back seat.
During a search of the vehicle detectives located a digital gram scale in the map pocket of the driver’s door. Also in the map pocket was a large bundle of US Currency, which was in three different stacks and rubber banded together, Brooks said.
Detectives searched the back seat of the vehicle and located a black backpack. Inside the backpack was a tubular object which was wrapped in black tape. Inside the tube were three individual bags containing a crystalline substance recognized to be methamphetamine, according to Brooks.
Also in the backpack were two large plastic bags containing a white granular substance, which was recognized to be a cutting agent. Brooks said the cutting agent is mixed with the methamphetamine to add weight to the substance when it is sold.
During a search of the trunk, detectives located two large plastic bags containing processed marijuana. They also located a duffel bag which contained several articles of men’s clothing. Also in the duffel bag were three pipes used to smoke methamphetamine, Brooks said.
A metal locking safe which looked like a book was also located in the trunk. Brooks said the detectives were able to pry the safe open and located another methamphetamine pipe, a large amount of packaging material, a plastic bag containing 44 blue pills determined to be Diazepam pills, another digital gram scale and 119 Hydrocodone pills inside a prescription bottle. Brooks said the bottle had a prescription on it stating it belonged to someone other than Regalia.
Brooks said all of the drugs, paraphernalia and other items found in the car were seized as evidence.
Regalia was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he was booked, Brooks said.
The methamphetamine was later weighed and determined to have a gross weight of 74.6 grams or 2.63 ounces. Brooks said the processed marijuana had a gross weight of 11.64 ounces. A total of $3,813 was located during the search which was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Lodge Fire burned another 1,000 acres on Thursday, while officials lifted the remaining evacuation order for the fire area.
Cal Fire said Thursday night that the fire's size had reached 12,336 acres, with containment increasing to 60 percent.
The lightning-caused complex of fires has been burning since July 30 in the Wilderness Lodge/Eel River Canyon area near Laytonville in Mendocino County.
It has continued to send significant amounts of smoke into other parts of the North Coast, including Lake County's air basin.
Another injury was reported on Thursday, with the total now at 13, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said aggressive mop up and strengthening of the control lines have allowed the evacuation order for areas including Camp Seabow, Bowman Ranch, Hunt Ranch, Tan Oak Park, Elk Creek and Mad Creek, The Hermitage, Big Bend and Camp St. Michael to be downgraded to evacuation warning status.
On Wednesday the American Red Cross closed the evacuation center is had opened in Leggett, as Lake County News has reported.
Sixteen structures remain threatened by the fire, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said personnel assigned to the Lodge Complex totaled 1,922 on Thursday, a number that was down by a few hundred from the previous day.
Other assigned resources include 132 fire engines, 57 fire crews, 12 bulldozers, 10 helicopters and 23 water tenders.
Suppression costs totaled $30 million as of Thursday night, Cal Fire said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters responded early Thursday to a report of a wildland fire near Clearlake.
The fire, first reported at about 1:15 a.m., initially was thought to be in the city of Clearlake's boundaries, but firefighters found the blaze was farther out, according to radio reports.
Lake County Fire originally responded and then asked for Cal Fire to send a full wildland response of several engines, reports from the scene indicated.
Fire officials at the scene reported over the radio that the fire, which they were accessing off of Dam Road, is in a very remote area east of Clearlake.
A Cal Fire dozer was requested to respond in order to build a road back to reach the blaze, according to scanner reports.
Just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday, officials at the scene reported that the fire was five to six acres in size, with a slow rate of spread and a slight west wind on it.
At that time a dozer was reported to be working on a road so firefighters could access the fire, radio reports indicated.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Students heading back to classes at the Lakeport Unified School District's schools this week will notice some new upgrades to the campuses, including a large new solar array and a new landscaping project.
District staff has been hard at work over the last few weeks preparing the elementary, middle and high schools for students' return.
Work has included repairs, prepping floors, painting and stenciling, mowing lawns, deep cleaning carpets and waxing floors.
Larger projects also have been under way.
Superintendent Erin Hagberg told the district board last week that stamped concrete and new landscaping were being installed between the Marge Alakszay Center multipurpose building and Terrace Middle School.
Previously, rocks had been part of the landscaping between the two buildings, but those rocks had become an “attractive nuisance,” Hagberg told the board. Students were climbing on the rocks, which also were being thrown through windows.
The new concrete and landscaping – which includes trees and shrubs – were to be finished on Wednesday, ahead of the Thursday beginning of school, Hagberg reported.
The area also will now include a memorial area honoring late Boardmember Brad Gatton, she said.
One of the most noticeable changes to the campus is a large new solar array located next to Terrace Middle School.
Hagberg told Lake County News the district has a power purchase agreement with Solar City so it did not purchase the solar arrays.
“We currently have more than 2,400 panels located on the LUSD campus that help to power the three schools and the district office,” she said.
The district is expected to cut its annual electric bill by 33 percent and save roughly $60,000 per year, Hagberg said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clear Lake High School Sports Foundation and Lakeport Fire Department Volunteers combined to take top honors at this year’s Grillin’ on the Green barbecue cook-off, held on Saturday, Aug. 2.
First-time Grillin’ competitor Adam Bruch led his team, The Bru Cru, to earn second place; and Still Smokin’ and Q-n with Adrian Hoaglen took third.
The winners were selected by people’s choice vote at the fifth annual fundraiser at Westside Community Park.
Organizers deemed this year’s event a success with more than $17,000 in revenue from ticket and drink sales, sponsorships and donations.
More than 350 people attended the fundraiser and enjoyed tastes from 11 grilling teams, music by the LC Diamonds, kids’ activities, and a show of classic and vintage cars.
“The Westside Community Park Committee appreciates the support of the community for this year's Grillin',” said Dennis Rollins, chair of the Westside Community Park Committee. “The grillers and other food providers, our sponsors, volunteers, the car clubs, and the people who came out to enjoy the evening in the park all made for a highly successful event.”
Cook-off teams this year included the Lakeport Kiwanis Club, Delta Iota Tau Sorority, the Cowgirls Consignment sponsored by the Lakeport Lions, the Early Lake Lions, the City of Lakeport, team “JQ,” Pat Lambert/Farmers Insurance, and the Rotary Servers.
“Every year I am more impressed with the support of the community and the top-notch cook-off competition,” said Cindy Ustrud, chair of the event committee. “The food keeps getting better and better – the best barbecue anywhere. I can't thank the grillers enough for their enthusiasm and generosity.”
Competing teams and their sponsors supply the food and volunteer their time and services to the fundraiser.
Attendees were treated to additional dishes to complement the barbecue tastes. Salads, beans, desserts and beverages were provided by Lakeview Market, Ruzicka Associates, Main Street Bicycles, and the Lakeport English Inn. Snow cones were available from Marta and Domingo Avillea.
Rollins recognized this year’s major sponsors: the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation, which pledged matching funds up to $5,000, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, and Lake Event Design. He also acknowledged the Early Lake Lions Club for its $1,000 donation to support park development.
Additional sponsors this year were the Ustrud-Rollins Family; Clearlake Redi-Mix; Dr. Brian Grey, DDS, MDS; Dr. Alexander McGeoch, DDS; Savings Bank of Mendocino County; Guy Strohmeier’s Auto Center; Kathy Fowler Auto Center; Hillside Honda; Richard Knoll Consulting; Susie LaPointe; Margaret Silveira; Jon and Annette Hopkins; Mendo Lake Credit Union; William C. Kranz, Attorney at Law; Polestar Computers; and Disney Boat Rentals.
In-kind contributions were made by Lake County News, KNTI radio, the Lake County Record-Bee, Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill, S2 Tutoring & PR, Disney Trophies and Awards, Kelseyville Unified School District and Kelseyville High School. The Lake County Chamber of Commerce was a major ticket outlet.
Rollins also thanked the Grillin’ on the Green committee of volunteers: Ustrud, Wilda Shock, Beth Havrilla, Alice Holmes, Sue Stout, Tami Cramer, Val Schweifler and Jessica Kelley.
Westside Community Park is a city of Lakeport recreational facility that has been in development for 16 years and includes soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, a horseshoe area and dog park.
The nonprofit Park Committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.
More information can be found on the park’s Web site, www.westsidecommunitypark.org .
