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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – The employees of the Mendocino National Forest want to remind visitors to have a safe July 4 holiday, especially while recreating in the forest.
For those coming to the Mendocino, the Upper Lake Ranger Station, located at 10025 Elk Mountain Road in Upper Lake, will be open Saturday, July 3, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The Stonyford Work Center, located at 5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road in Stonyford, also will be open Saturday during the same hours.
All offices will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday.
Oak Flat Campground has been reopened following renovation work over the past month. Originally the campground was scheduled to reopen July 12.
Approximately .7 miles of road surface was reconstructed, aggregate base rock was placed on the road, rock barriers were put in place and a gate and signs were installed.
Oak Flat Campground is located on the Upper Lake Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest, west of Stonyford.
Even though the area had a wet winter and spring and there is still snow in the mountains, visitors are asked to be careful with fire in the National Forest, including campfires, gas stoves and lanterns.
Fireworks, including sparklers, are prohibited on the Mendocino National Forest.
While the weather is warming up at lower elevations, visitors should be prepared for changing conditions and cooler nighttime temperatures in the mountains.
Bring layered clothing and plenty of food and water on your outdoor adventure. Tell someone where you are planning on going, which routes you plan on taking and when you plan on being back.
“We want everyone to have a safe and memorable Fourth of July weekend, especially those joining us on the Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Tom Contreras.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest Upper Lake Ranger District at 707-275-0676, the Stonyford Work Center at 530-963-3128 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino.
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- Written by: Bob Cook
LAKEPORT – Aaron Hicks of Grass Valley claimed his first main event victory of 2010 on the June 19 weekend at Lakeport Speedway during the 50 lap race.
He topped the two dominant drivers of the year, Mark Marek and Thomas Wright. An early caution fell when Rick Tomilla and Daryl LaVer came together in turn No. 1 for a spectacular wreck that drew a red flag over the field.
All drivers were checked out and OK, with both cars being retired to the pits for the evening.
By lap 15, Hicks had progressed from his 11th place starting position, to third and was in pursuit of the two front cars of Chuck Pruett and Danny Bishop. Hicks made the pass for the lead on lap 19 and held it to the end of the race, but not without challenges.
Another caution fell on lap 29 when rookie Alex Andrews, making his debut in the modifieds, lost control of his car on the front straight. The next restart saw Hicks on the inside with lightning-fast Marek on the outside groove.
Upon reviewing history at the speedway, one would guess this was surely not a good sign for Hicks, to be able to hold off Marek’s challenge on the outside. After a three-lap battle, Hicks pulled away from Marek, seeing him lose second to Wright a few laps later.
On lap 37, David Lyndall’s No. 11 retired to the infield with mechanical difficulties, without drawing a caution as the field continued to click off mid 12 second laps.
With victory close in sight, Hicks battled on to keep the lead from two of the fastest guys at Lakeport Speedway. A final late race caution fell on lap 46 for a spin in turn No. 1, drawing the field to face
another restart.
Any restarts with 10 laps or less to go in a race are single file restarts, so the field lined up single file with Hicks in the lead, followed by Wright and Marek. Wright did not give up all the way to the checkered flag; he looked low and tried looking high but to no avail.
The final finishing order saw Hicks claim his first main event win after returning to racing from retirement followed by Wright, Marek, Richie Potts and Pruett rounding out the top five.
Wright qualified the fastest of the 16 Coors Lights Modifieds with a time of 12.521, followed by with Marek, 12.533; Hicks, 12.606; Sean Sweeney, 12.650; Potts, 12.681; and Tommy Lyndall qualified with a 12.727, rounding out the top six.
Sweeney won the dash and Bishop his heat race, David Lyndall won the second heat race.
Sean Keown qualified the fastest in the NCRA Mini Stocks, with a time of 13.960, followed by Jay Strugnel with 14.012; Thomas Esberg, 14.717; Anthony Esberg, 15.039; Jason Pratt, 15.085; and Fred Schmitt with 18.343.
Keown won both the dash and the main; he was followed by Strugnel, Thomas Esberg, Pratt, Anthony Esberg and Schmitt.
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There were 14 Clover Hydro Jammers in all, between the Pros (eight) and juniors (six).
Ellis Thornton won the Pro Jammer dash while Kyle Medina won the heat race and Jackson Long won the junior’s dash, Caity Miller won her heat.
For the main event Alisha Herron was on the pole and Nolan Forsythe on her outside to lead the full field of Jammers.
On lap 26 the second yellow came out for Long, Hayley Bishop and Forsythe in a turn two crash, with Long getting the worst of it. Jackson Long was checked out by the emergency medical technician and was able to walk off the track under his own power.
When the checkered flag dropped, Mike Peterson was awarded the win for the Pro-Jammers followed by Thornton, Klein, Patrick Thornton, Jonathan Timms, and Jimmy Foley.
Miller was awarded the win for the Junior Jammers, followed by Kayleigh Sullivan, Herron, Bishop, Long and Forsythe.
“I did not think I was going to win after going to the back of the field with five laps to go! Happy Father's Day, Dad,” Miller said.
Mike Neilson qualified the fastest in the Snake Pit Development Bombers with a time of 14.024, followed by Travis Thorn, 14.043; Mike Swaney, 14.318; Charlie Collins, 14.429; Ryan Sweeney, 14.429; and Scott Griffon, 14.596.
Collins won the dash and his heat race, and Evan Smith won the alternate heat race.
Twelve Snake Pit Development Bombers qualified for the feature event. KC Norton’s No. 69 and Jim Portlock’s No. 71 led the field to the green flag.
Norton got the jump on Portlock. The next 19 laps were all green flag laps with a lot of side by side racing, Collins took the checker over, Neilson, Swaney, Thorn and Griffin.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT – A new disc golf course will make its official debut this Saturday, July 3.
Nate Secrest, a senior at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport, designed and installed the course for his senior project this year.
Secrest said the course is for middle and high school physical education classes to use, but it's also available for the community when school is not in session.
He invites everyone in the community to come to the course's grand opening this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The course is designed for beginners, with the holes a little shorter than the ones at the Highland Springs disc golf course, he said.
Clear Lake High School is located at 350 Lange St.
For more information e-mail Secrest at
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- Written by: Editor
MIDDLETOWN – Public Services Director Kim K. Clymire announce that the Middletown Pool will be open for recreational swimming on the July 4 holiday.
The pool will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 4.
The Middletown Pool season is open Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., through Sunday, Aug. 15.
Pool patrons 10 years and under must be accompanied by an adult 15 years of age or older.
Hardester’s Market in Middletown has once again generously agreed to donate free swim passes for children who are 12 years of age and under.
Passes may be obtained by simply dropping by the Middletown Hardester’s Store and picking a pass up prior to going to the pool.
Hardester's has donated $31,031 in free pool passes to Middletown children since 1988.
Pool fees are $1.25 for children under 12 years old, $2 for 13 years and older.
Season passes are available for individuals for $40 and families (immediate family members only) for $80.
Schools, nonprofits and private group rates are $100 per hour for 25 attendees or less with a lifeguard, and $150 per hour for parties of more than 25 but less than 50 with lifeguards.
Clymire and his Public Services staff wish everyone a safe and happy summer.
For more information contact Lake County Public Services at 707-262-1618.