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SACRAMENTO – Illegal tobacco sales to minors have fallen to their lowest level on record in California, according to a report from the California Department of Public Health.

The 2011 Youth Tobacco Purchase Survey found that tobacco sales to minors at retail outlets occurred at a rate of 5.6 percent – the lowest rate in the survey’s 16-year history.

“It is important to protect our youth from using tobacco which is deadly and addictive,” said California Department of Public Health Dr. Ron Chapman. “We are proud that fewer retailers are selling cigarettes to minors, but we have more work to do to guarantee that all kids in California grow up tobacco-free.”

When the state first started monitoring illegal sales of tobacco in 1995, teens participating in the survey were able to buy tobacco products during 37 percent of tobacco purchase attempts.

It has steadily gone down in recent years from 8.6 percent in 2009 to 7.7 percent in 2010 and 5.6 percent this year.

Although the illegal sales rate to minors was lower than previous years, there are still store types with high illegal sales rates.

Stores that are considered non-traditional tobacco retailers, including donut shops, discount stores, deli/meat markets, gift stores and produce markets, have a higher illegal sale rate (9.8 percent average).

Non-traditional stores with the highest rates are deli/meat markets (11.6 percent) and discount/gift stores (8.3 percent). This is about twice as high as traditional tobacco retailers, which include liquor stores, convenience stores with and without gas, supermarkets, drug stores/pharmacy, gas stations and tobacco shops, which average 4.8 percent.

Traditional retailers with the lowest illegal sales rates included liquor stores (1.3 percent), convenience stores with and without gas (5.3 and 4.9 percent) and tobacco shops (6.5 percent).

The state’s adult smoking prevalence rate is 11.9 percent, second lowest in the nation. Since 1989, California’s tobacco control efforts have saved 1 million lives and an estimated $86 billion in health care and other costs to society.

This annual survey of illegal sales of cigarettes to minors is conducted to gauge the rate of illegal tobacco sales across California and to comply with the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act (B & P Code 22950-22963).

All U.S. states and territories are required to assess their rate of illegal sales of tobacco to youth pursuant to the Federal Synar Amendment. California retailers caught selling tobacco products to minors are subject to fines ranging from $200 to $6,000.

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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The abalone fishery along the California coast of Sonoma County is officially closed effective immediately, state officials said Wednesday.

The abalone season remains open in the rest of the Northern California coastal counties – Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte – according to the California Department of Fish and Game.

On Oct. 4, the Office of Administrative Law approved the emergency regulations for an abalone closure on the Sonoma County coast. The regulations became effective upon filing with the Secretary of State at 2:42 p.m. Wednesday.

On Sept. 15, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to close the fishery. This action was taken in the wake of confirmed reports of dead red abalone and other invertebrates on beaches and inside coves along the coast in these areas.

Data continue to be collected that shows an abalone die-off along the Sonoma coast beginning Aug. 27.

According to Department of Fish and Game biologists, these abalone deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom and calm ocean conditions.

Although the exact reasons for the abalone deaths are not known, invertebrate die-offs have occurred in the past along the Northern California coast due to lack of oxygen and/or poisoning when similar weather and bloom conditions existed but not at the magnitude of this event.

Reports of dead abalone and a variety of other invertebrates have come from Bodega Bay, Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County and as far north as Anchor Bay in Mendocino County.

Other Department of Fish and Game biologists and game wardens have been collecting abalone, mussels and water samples since the problem started and are continuing to document reports from the public

The public is encouraged to report the location, date, and number of dead or dying abalone to Ian Taniguchi at 562-342-7182 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Divers are encouraged to avoid diving in the affected areas and cannot take abalone. Take is defined in Section 86 of the Fish and Game Code as “hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill.”

Abalone fishermen are advised to contact a physician immediately if they become sick, and to report symptoms to the local county health department (www.sonomacounty.org/health/about/publichealth.asp).

The latest red tide updates from the California Department of Public Health are also posted online at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/DDWEM.aspx.

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CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – An apparent pipe bomb discovered by a child earlier this week was destroyed without incident, according to a Tuesday report.

Sgt. Tim Celli reported that the incident took place on Monday afternoon.

He said that at about 2 p.m. Monday the Clearlake Police Department was contacted by a citizen who reported a suspicious device at the north end of 12^th Street in Clearlake Park.

The man who told police about the device said his juvenile son had discovered it, according to Celli.

Officers responded to the area, which was an apparent dried up pond that was previously attached to Borax Lake, Celli said.

Officers visually inspected the device, which appeared to be a possible pipe bomb. Celli said the device was made of a metal pipe and had wires protruding from one of the capped ends.

With coordination through the Lake County Office of Emergency Services, the Napa County Bomb Squad was subsequently dispatched to the scene, Celli said.

He said the device was examined and eventually destroyed without incident by the bomb squad.

Personnel from the Napa County Bomb squad reported that the device contained gun powder and a 9 volt battery that was connected to the wires, Celli said.

Celli said it appeared the device may have been in this dried up pond area for a long period of time.

The Clearlake Police Department thanked the citizen and his son who reported the suspicious device and also reminded parents to talk with their children about what to do if they were to find suspicious items such as this.

In addition, the Clearlake Police Department thanked the Office of Emergency services and the Napa County Bomb Squad for their assistance.

Anyone with information about this explosive device is asked to call the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The North Coast's congressman is concerned about the possible negative impacts that could result from the new Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) on Tuesday again voiced his concerns with a plan that would take water away from the Delta region.

Joined by Representatives George Miller, Doris Matsui, Jerry McNerney and John Garamendi, Thompson met with Jerry Meral, the deputy secretary of the California Natural Resource Agency, to express his grave concern over any Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) that could adversely affect the Delta Region. Meral is the senior state official who oversees the BDCP.

“Needlessly rushing the scientific review of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is simply irresponsible, and that is what I told the Bay Delta Conservation Plan officials today,” said Thompson.

“We know all too well the consequences of bad water policy combined with impractical deadlines,” Thompson said. “In Humboldt and Del Norte counties, expedited review of the Klamath River project resulted in the death of 68,000 Chinook Salmon. Are we really considering walking down the same road again? We need sound, science-based solutions that don't harm our wildlife or environment."

The year 2009 saw the lowest return of Sacramento fall-run Chinook on record – less than 40,000 adult fish, a decline of over 90 percent from the historical average of 450,000, according to Thompson's office.

Low returns have resulted in the closure of the salmon fishery and the loss of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in the fishing industry.

Beyond its importance for fish, keeping enough water flowing through the Delta is also essential to maintain habitat used by millions of migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway and the associated economies which generate billions of dollars for the state each year, Thompson's office reported.

This excessive water diversion harms the wildlife and ecology of Delta and the economies that it drives.

“I will continue to be a strong advocate for the people of the entire Delta region to ensure that the water resources we need remain in place,” said Congressman McNerney. “Steps must be taken now to ensure that the BDCP serves the best interests of our region, and insisted that the voice of the Delta be heard.”

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The ongoing economic recession that first surfaced a few years ago served as the catalyst to further invigorate a long standing collaborative relationship between the Yuba Community College District, its Clear Lake Campus and Konocti Unified School District, officials with the college and district reported this week.

A Monday report said the relationship has always stemmed from the sincere interest of all parties to best serve the educational needs of the students and the Clearlake community, and has typically taken the shape of articulation of programs. During recent years that relationship has grown further.

In the 2009-10 academic year KUSD was faced with the tough decision of what to do in the wake of millions of dollars in budget cuts.

Ultimately, one of the decisions that were made was to close Oak Hill Middle School, which was adjacent to the Clear Lake Campus, and make the local elementary schools into K-8 institutions, creating an immediate cost savings, as Lake County News has reported.

As a result of that decision, property at the former middle school, including the bus barn, were now available. With the Clear Lake Campus looking at options of where to place its future buildings, a new partnership opportunity was created.

The KUSD Board of Trustees approved a purchase agreement at their June 2, 2010, meeting which was subsequently approved by the YCCD Governing Board on June 9, 2010.

The agreement was for YCCD to acquire a 3.17 acre parcel of property adjacent to CLC on 15850 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake, CA for $475,000.

The acquisition of the property will enable the Clear Lake Campus to add three new permanent facilities to the campus – a student services center, a science building and a culinary arts facility.

The land acquisition will also provide the Clear Lake Campus direct frontage to Dam Road Extension and greater visibility and access to the general public from State Highway 53. These three new buildings, which comprise 29,000 square feet, will be the first permanent buildings at the Clear Lake Campus.

The property acquisition and construction of the buildings constitute a $19 million project which is a part of the Proposition 39 Measure J facilities bond program passed by District voters in November 2006.

Construction has started on the new facilities with a groundbreaking ceremony being held on Sept. 7.

"This project will transform the campus, and will make it much more visible to the community,” said Clear Lake Campus Executive Dean Bryon Bell. “No longer will people drive down a narrow access road to discover what they've described as a 'hidden gem' in our community. I anticipate this project, along with our work in strengthening partnerships with KUSD and other local entities will provide long-term benefits to students in Lake County."

Also on Sept. 7, Lower Lake High School had a groundbreaking for its new auto shop facility. This state of the art facility is another example of how YCCD’s and KUSD’s partnership has made public dollars go further.

Four years ago a grant was written and received that would pay for one-half of the facility. While these funds were frozen due to the current financial crisis, the dollars garnered from the land sale helped secure the other half of the construction monies needed. Additionally, as part of the sale agreement, YCCD paid to improve the access road to the upper field at Highlands.

When the auto building is completed later this school-year, it will be filled with equipment and a new paint booth purchased through collaboration with local agencies and businesses.

“Clear Lake Campus students will be able to use the auto facilities and LLHS students will benefit tremendously from the new facilities at the college,” said Konocti Unified Superintendent Dr. William MacDougall. “This is a wonderful story about how through collaboration we can accomplish a great deal, stretch our dollars, and move forward during these tough financial times.”

Lower Lake High School's auto shop instructor will teach both high school and college classes. The Clear Lake Campus hopes to offer a small engine repair certificate in the near future as well as other types of automotive programs to accommodate both student demand and local workforce needs.

“This is truly a new era for the Clear Lake Campus,” said YCCD Chancellor Dr. Douglas Houston. “The future is bright and will continue to be so as long as we sustain the strong partnerships that we have built with our local school districts, businesses and community.”

The Yuba Community College District spans eight counties and nearly 4,200 square miles of territory in rural, north central California. It has colleges in Marysville and Woodland, an educational center in Clearlake, outreach operations at Beale Air Force Base and in Williams, and will be adding an outreach facility in Sutter County as part of the Measure J facilities bond.

For more information about YCCD visit www.yccd.edu.

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