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The grant was awarded to the California Telehealth Network, a coalition led by the University of California, in partnership with government agencies and healthcare providers, including the California State Rural Healthcare Association, according to a statement from the office of state Sen. Patricia Wiggins' office. The group will work together to bring modern health care services to rural, underserved areas of California.
Telehealth and telemedicine services provide patients in rural areas with access to critically needed medical specialists in urban areas through video conferencing, Wiggins' office reported. With this new technology, urban doctors can monitor patients, make diagnoses and assist in treating patients in rural areas from long distances.
As members of the California Legislative Rural Caucus, Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) and Assemblymember Patty Berg (D-Eureka) actively supported the California Telehealth Network’s grant application by working with Congress and contacting the FCC to ensure California received its share of the federal funding.
The two legislators say they were very pleased by the news of the award.
“This federal grant will help us to expand broadband networks for telemedicine, which will enable us to connect medical experts to clinics in some of the most remote regions of California,” Berg said.
Wiggins agreed, saying that “it is critical that our state sets the standard with this new technology, which will enable us to save time, save money and, most importantly, save lives.”
Rural Caucus Chair Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) commended Wiggins and Berg for their hard work on behalf of rural Californians, noting, “I have been very impressed how the members of the Rural Caucus pulled together to fight for this funding. The senator and assemblymember have been tireless advocates for this important grant. I am grateful to have them as members of our team.”
The $22 million grant award comes on top of the $200 million allocated in Proposition 1D to build telemedicine capacity around the state, Wiggins' office reported. The award will build upon existing networks and connect approximately 300 health care providers that are currently unconnected to telemedicine services.
The California Legislative Rural Caucus is a bipartisan group created to protect and promote rural California and its interests. It is comprised of 45 members from the California State Assembly and Senate that represent rural areas throughout California.
David Miller, Wiggins' spokesman, reported that over the next three years the grant would be distributed to a number of North Coast health care providers, including several in and around Lake County.
In year two, Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport would receive funds, as would Potter Valley Community Health Center and Round Valley Indian Health Center.
The following year, the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium in Lakeport, and Mendocino Community Health Clinic in both Lakeport and Ukiah, would receive funds.
Miller did not have information at this time on the amount of grant money each local health care provider would receive.
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Fire dangers increase throughout the home during the holiday season. Many homes are decorated with seasonal garlands, electric lights, candles, banners or displays.
Probably the most popular addition to the home during the holiday season, and a significant fire hazard, is the Christmas tree. Dried-out fir and pine Christmas trees ignite easily and can accelerate fire growth by spreading rapidly to nearby combustible materials in the home.
This happens because as the winter holiday season progresses, live or cut Christmas trees and greens will eventually die. As plants die, they dry out and become more combustible.
Statistically speaking, each year in the United States, more than 200 residential structure fires occur where Christmas trees are the material first ignited. I have been a firefighter for a long time and it seems like every year, we respond to a fire involving a Christmas tree.
Sometimes these fires are devastating and destroy the entire home. Other times the fire is relatively minor and only involve the tree and the contents of the room, including new gifts and presents. Shortening the time the tree is in the home and keeping the tree watered can prevent some of these fires.
Here are some other Christmas tree safety suggestions.
When purchasing a live or cut tree, check for fresh, green needles. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles. The use of fire-retardant artificial Christmas trees will also reduce the chance of tree fires in residences.
Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over. Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily.
Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source, such as fireplaces and radiators. Try to position the tree near an electrical outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
When decorating Christmas trees, always use safe tree lights. (Some lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.) Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights. Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
Check your strands of lights to determine the number of strands that may be connected. Connect no more than three strands of push-in bulbs and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and place them well away from tree branches. Never use electric lights on a metal tree.
Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.
All of us in Lake County must be aware of the increased fire hazards present in their homes during this festive time of year. During the holiday season, as fire danger inside a home increases, efforts should be made to make your home fire-safe. Especially tragic are those fires caused by Christmas tree decorations.
So please, be careful, and be safe. We don’t want any tragic fires this holiday season.
For more information visit the United States Fire Administration at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfdc/tfrs.htm.
Robert MacIntyre is a firefighter and a member of the South Lake County Fire District Board of Directors. He lives in Hidden Valley Lake.
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THE AGE OF THE INJURED WOMAN HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
BLUE LAKES – A Redway woman was injured after she lost control of her vehicle and hit another vehicle Sunday.
Sara Champie, 21, was hospitalized after the crash, which took place t about 6:10 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia.
Champie was driving a 1997 Nissan Altima eastbound on Highway 20 east of Blue Lakes Road, said Garcia.
The weather was rainy, and a preliminary CHP investigation into the rash's cause indicated that Champie was driving at approximately 65 miles per hour, Garcia reported.
Due to her speed and roadway conditions, Garcia said Champie lost control of the vehicle as she entered a right curve in the road.
The car went into the highway's westbound lane and hit a 2007 GMC Yukon driven by 38-year-old Diane Ogden of El Dorado Hills, said
Garcia.
Garcia said Champie sustained major injuries that were not life-threatening. She was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital before later being transferred to UC Davis Medical Center.
Ogden and her passenger, Celina Chouinarg of Elk Grove, were not injured, said Garcia.
CHP Officer Robert Hearn is investigating the incident.
With the rainy season having arrived, Garcia said it's important to remember to take special weather precautions when driving.
He said the CHP is reminding drivers to always give themselves extra time when traveling, increase their following distance and remember to slow down during inclement weather. They also should remember to check their tires and windshield wipers.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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Between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. a house fire was reported at 1320 E. Highway 20, according to Ken Petz, a battalion chief with Northshore Fire Protection District.
Passersby spotted the fire and called for firefighters, then began putting the fire out with a garden hose, Petz said.
The landowner reportedly was away at the time of the fire, which Petz said started because of fireplace ashes that had been placed outside of the home, against one of its exterior walls.
The fire moved up into the eaves and attic, said Petz. Firefighters got to the scene quickly and hosed down the attic to stop the fire's spread.
Two engines, one each from Nice and Upper Lake, as well as a water tender, an attack unit and between 10 and 12 firefighters responded, said Petz.
Petz said thanks to the quick action of the people who reported the fire, the house's fire damage was minimal. “That was a good save.”
The fire was out about 20 minutes after firefighters arrived, Petz said.
Officials remained on scene until the owner returned home from a trip to Willits.
“We were there probably an hour and a half total,” said Petz.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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The US Geological Survey reported that 4.0 quake occurred at 12:50 p.m. It was centered one mile northeast of The Geysers and four miles west southwest from Cobb.
There were 24 reports made to the US Geological Survey from individuals who felt the quake from Kelseyville all the way to San Francisco. Ten people in Middletown reported feeling the quake.
At approximately 12:57 p.m., a 3.0 quake occurred three miles north of The Geysers and four miles west of Cobb, according to the US Geological Survey.
There were nine reports from people who felt that quake, five of them in Middletown, one in Lower Lake and other reports coming from Healdsburg, Petaluma and even San Francisco, according to the US Geological Survey.
The last time an earthquake over 3.0 in magnitude was felt in Lake County was Sept. 17, when a 3.5 quake was recorded by the US Geological Survey nine miles northeast of Hidden Valley Lake, as Lake County News previously reported.
A quake of 4.0 magnitude hasn't occurred in the county since a 4.4 magnitude quake hit The Geysers area on April 24, based on US Geological Survey records.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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A vehicle colliding with a power pole caused the outage, according to Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman JD Guidi.
Guidi said the outage began at 8:32 p.m. Friday after a vehicle hit and destroyed a power pole at 17179 Knollview Drive in Hidden Valley Lake.
It took PG&E crews until 12:46 p.m. Saturday to finish repairing what Guidi called “extensive damage.”
“They had to replace the pole,” said Guidi.
A total of 1,855 customers were affected, Guidi said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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