SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – During the winter season, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) urges customers to be mindful of the dangers associated with carbon monoxide.

Several tragic cases of carbon monoxide poisoning take place each year during the winter months as people try to stay warm.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that is created by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and wood. If unsafe concentrations of carbon monoxide are not detected, the result can be fatal.

Customers should never use generators, charcoal or barbeque grills inside the home. When using the fireplace to stay warm, make sure the flue is open, so the byproducts of combustion can vent safely through the chimney.

Many customers in PG&E’s service area use natural gas furnaces to stay warm. PG&E reminds customers to make sure all natural gas furnaces and appliances inside the home are in proper working order. Natural gas appliances that do not burn properly can produce carbon monoxide.

Customers should inspect the flame on all gas appliances.

A blue flame indicates complete combustion and the appliance is working properly. A lazy, yellow or white flame is a warning sign that the appliance is not burning properly and could be producing carbon monoxide.

If customers suspect there is a problem with a natural gas appliance inside their home, they should call PG&E immediately at 1-800-PGE-5000. A gas service representative will be dispatched to do a thorough inspection.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and convulsions.

Because carbon monoxide is hard to detect, someone with mild poisoning can go to sleep and continue to breathe the carbon monoxide until severe illness or death occurs.

People may also mistake their symptoms for a viral infection like the flu.

To help prevent cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, PG&E offers the following tips to keep customers healthy and safe:

• Install a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide has no color, no taste and no odor. Detectors will warn you when concentrations become dangerously high.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends detectors be placed near sleeping areas, where they can wake you if you are asleep.

• Never use generators, propane heaters, barbeques or charcoal indoors.

• Ensure that generators are properly installed and operated outdoors. For more generator safety tips, please visit www.pge.com/generator/.

• When using the fire place, make sure the flue is open, and the chimney is venting properly.

• Do not idle cars inside the garage and do not allow snow to block tailpipe emissions when operating a vehicle outdoors.

• Make sure water heaters and other natural gas appliances have proper ventilation. Older appliances and room heaters that are not vented externally should be inspected annually.

• Have a trained professional inspect furnaces and other gas appliances. To schedule an inspection with PG&E, customers can call 1-800-PGE-5000 or visit www.pge.com.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – “The Law Show” on KPFZ 88.1 FM will host new Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson on Saturday, Jan. 29.

The show will air from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Less than a month or so into his first term as district attorney, Anderson will join host Herb Gura in KPFZ’s studios to discuss how it’s going so far, including what changes he has instituted, what campaign promises he has begun to fill and what major cases he's working on now.

Telephone lines will be open for questions or comments. Call 707-263-3435.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – KPFZ 88.1 FM's “Earth Wise,” will feature Dr. Peter Phillips of Project Censored on Friday, Jan. 28.

The show will air from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Phillips is professor of sociology and media studies at Sonoma State University.

He heads up Project Censored, founded by Dr. Carl Jensen.

Phillips has just published the 13th edition of the "Censored" yearbook and writes for independent media nationwide.

Middletown Mustang David Pike, seen here in a game with St. Helena last November, will play football at Montana Tech in Butte, Mont., beginning this fall. Photo by Ed Oswalt.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – MT Tech Oredigger Head Football Coach Chuck Morrell has announced that Middletown High School standout running back David Pike will be playing for the Orediggers in 2011.

“We are very excited to get David up here this fall,” said Morrell. “With all his success on the field and in the classroom he will be a great fit for Montana Tech.”

Pike played defensive back and returned punts for Head Coach Bill Foltmer and the Mustangs, but it's at running back where he made his mark.

He also was the 2010 All-County and All-League (NCL I North) offensive MVP, and is the school record holder for all-time single-season touchdowns, scoring record, rushing record, career total rushing touchdowns and tied for career total touchdowns.

Pike is also the Lake County record holder for all-time single-season rushing touchdowns, scoring touchdowns and touchdowns.

He runs the 100 meter dash and the 4x100 meter relay in track, and was a 2010-11 North Coast Section, CIF Scholar Athlete.

Montana Tech is located in Butte, Mont.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Members of the Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH) Redevelopment Committee will facilitate a grant application strategy session on Thursday, Feb. 3.

The session will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Cowpoke Café, 21118 Calistoga Road.

MATH is seeking funding to create a design for streetscape, landscape and traffic safety improvements along the Highway 29 corridor. The focus is to improve upon an application which was denied in 2010.

The group is not seeking specific design ideas, but narratives that describe Middletown’s unique problems and opportunities, issues and stakeholders.

The want to hear community members' ideas in order to formulate a winning submission.

Agenda items include review and revision of the existing transportation planning grant application, and letters of recommendation from stakeholders.

For more information e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Catholic Charities' office in Middletown has moved.

The office is now located at 21085 Bush St., Middletown.

The phone number remains 707-987-8139.

Catholic Charities is a nonprofit, social service agency, serving the public – all people in need in Napa, Lake and Sonoma counties.