SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol will accept applications in March from individuals interested in a career as a CHP officer.

The CHP is looking to hire cadets from a pool of applicants to fill vacant officer positions throughout the state.

“The CHP is looking for men and women who represent the diverse communities that we serve to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “This is your opportunity to become a member of one of the greatest law enforcement agencies in the world.”

Applications will only be accepted online during a four-day period beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 2, and ending at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.

Those interested in applying, or seeking additional information, should visit www.chpcareers.com .

“If you are looking for a career, not just a job, then we have a spot for you in our Department,” added Farrow. “We invite all interested members of our communities to apply during the four-day application period.”

Minimum qualifications for candidates include: must be 20 to 35 years old, a U.S. citizen, have no felony convictions and be a high school graduate.

Each applicant will be required to complete the entire testing process including a physical ability test, written test, background investigation, medical/vision evaluation and psychological evaluation.

All components of the testing process as well as an applicant study guide and practice test can be found online at www.chpcareers.com .

Be sure to also visit the CHP’s recruitment page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chp.recruiting .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY
 
Highway 20

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from Third Street to Country Club Drive beginning Wednesday, March 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 175

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Putah Creek Bridge to Dry Creek Road through Friday, Feb. 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1

– Emergency roadway repairs from 1.5 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road to just north of Albion will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Salmon Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 20

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from Porterfield Lane to 1.7 miles east of Road 350 through Friday, Feb. 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Highway construction from Casteel Lane to the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs near Piercy will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
Highway 253

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from 3.3 miles east of Butler Ranch Road to State Street. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.
 
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

With colder temperatures and increased use of heating devices, Cal Fire is warning of the threat of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

CO is a colorless, odorless gas created when fuels, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane, burn incompletely.

Now is the time to make sure all homes have a working carbon monoxide alarm to protect residents.

“Having a working Carbon monoxide alarm is your family’s number one tool to protect against the silent killer that is CO,” said State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover, Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal. “According to the National Fire Protection Association, most CO incidents occur in homes, making it even more important to ensure your home has an alarm.”

According to the American Medical Association, CO poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Low levels of CO poisoning can cause shortness of breath, mild headaches, nausea, and fainting.

CO is called the invisible killer because the gas cannot be seen or smelled. CO alarms are designed to alert residents before exposure to CO causes a health hazard.

Take action to stay safe from CO poisoning:

– Install a CO alarm outside of each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
– Follow the instructions on the package to properly install the CO alarm, and test them once a month.
– If the battery is low, replace it. The alarm will make a different sound if the battery is low.
– If the CO alarm sounds, you must get fresh air. Get everyone out of the house and call 911.

To avoid CO poisoning here are some safety tips to remember:

– Never use your oven, stove, gas or charcoal grills to heat your home; they can create CO. Only use them outside.
– When warming up a vehicle, move it out of the garage. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not blocked as CO can result from the backup.
– Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year.
– During and after a snowstorm, ensure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of debris or, in higher elevations, snow buildup.
– A generator should be used outdoors only. Use in a well-ventilated area away from windows, doors and vent openings.

For more information, visit www.fire.ca.gov .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – As part of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Healthy Start and Redwood Empire Dental Society (REDS) celebrated “Give Kids A Smile Day” at Pomo Elementary School on Feb. 25.

Every child at Pomo Elementary received a free full-sized toothbrush and tube of toothpaste​which were provided by REDS and Martin Van Tassel.

A free sealant clinic was available courtesy of Dr. Doug Lewis, the Mendocino Community Health Clinic Inc., and Marta Fuller of Lake County Public Health.

In addition, preschool students and their parents visited Pomo Healthy Start and received a free kindergarten oral health assessment, free stickers, and a round of applause for brushing daily.

Thanks was offered to Pomo Elementary for hosting this event.

Robyn Bera works for the Lake County Office of Education.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine tasting event featuring wines from Wildhurst Vineyards and reception with artist Anna Sabalone and musical guest guitarist Stephen Holland on Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7.

The reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. March 6 and 4 to 7 p.m. March 7.

The Saturday event will include an optional progressive three-course winemaker dinner at the Tallman Hotel following the appetizer course at the studio.

Wildhurst owners Myron and Marilyn Holdenried and winemaker Banyon Kirkendall will be at the studio and Tallman Hotel for the receptions and the special Saturday dinner event.

The $12.50 ($10/per person for studio club members) wine sampler and appetizers presented at the studio will showcase the 2013 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc with shrimp cocktail, 2011 Reserve Merlot with smoked duck drizzled with a Merlot reduction on crostini, 2011 Reserve Zinfandel with crimini mushrooms stuffed with quinoa, vegetables and cheese, and 2005 Vintage Port paired with a spiced plum and ginger bread pudding.
 
The wines and menu prepared by guest chef Mark Linback at the Tallman Hotel on March 7 will feature the 2013 Reserve Chardonnay with seared sea scallops on potato pancakes with tart apple relish, followed by the 2011 Home Ranch Zinfandel paired with roast leg of lamb with dried fig stuffing, blue cheese bread pudding and fig au jus, and the dessert course will be chocolate pistachio terrine with blueberries and the 2011 Petite Sirah.
 
Seatings for the Saturday dinner at the Tallman are currently sold out and can be wait-listed by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.

Seats are now available to reserve for the April 4 Wine Studio reception and Tallman winemaker dinner featuring the wines of Sol Rouge with winemaker Bryan Kane.

In 1966, well before many of the established wineries of Napa and Sonoma counties, fifth-generation pear grower Myron Holdenried became a winegrape grower when he planted his first 30 acres of Zinfandel.

Cabernet Sauvignon plantings soon followed as well as other varietals and as the vineyards matured, their reputation for premium quality grapes grew.

In 1991, the Holdenrieds and their business partners leased a winery facility and launched Wildhurst.

Hurst is a Gaelic word meaning “wooded hillside” and “wild hurst” is the perfect description for the verdant slopes of Mt. Konocti overlooking the Holdenried ranch.

In 1997 the Holdenried's built their own winery on land surrounded by their pear orchards.

Winemaker Banyon Kirkendall grew up in Lake County. He has been a firefighter and has worked in the kitchens of high-end restaurants in Sonoma County and it was there, while enjoying excellent foods, that his palate was introduced to a wide variety of fine wines.

Viticulture studies led him to work at a Dry Creek Vineyard for a vineyard management company and it was not long before he heard about an assistant position at a winery in his home county.

After two weeks into the crush of 2002 at Wildhurst he knew he wanted to become a winemaker. Kirkendall attended Fresno State University and obtained his degree in dnology. After graduating he returned to Wildhurst as assistant winemaker and became the winemaker in 2011.

The featured artist for March is Anna Sabalone.

Sabalone was born and raised in Lake County. Her interest and love for the arts began at a young age, supported by her mother and other artists around the county including Lorraine Brady-Arthur, Floyd and Betty Lou Surber, and Tina and Doug Moore.

She has been involved in the Lake County Arts Council since her teen years. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Leeds, England for her undergraduate degree in English, history and anthropology.

She earned her teaching credential and masters of education from UCSB and has been teaching art, English, history and Academic Decathlon at Upper Lake High School since 2008.

Sabalone's range in art include a multitude of media and subjects such as pencil, pastel, watercolor, oils, acrylics, linoleum blocks, ink, scratch board (and always trying new subjects for her students).

Her show includes an eclectic variety of her work to demonstrate her flexibility. Her inspiration includes everyday objects, her travels and the landscapes where she has lived including Southern California, the East Coast and Europe.

Lake County landscapes have been a featured element of her work for the past twenty years, and continue to influence her today.

Nature, portraits and design media (tattoos, tablecloths, logo and pattern work) are also features included in her portfolio.

She is constantly expanding her repertoire to sate her curiosity and to encourage students to continue their artistic development. For further information, she can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
 
Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display and sale of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artists shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake and is open Mondays, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Fridays from 1 to 8 p.m.

The Sabalone art exhibit will be on display through March 30.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

SACRAMENTO – During an emotional and informative Senate Human Services oversight hearing on the over-prescription of psychotropic drugs among California’s foster care youth, Senator Mike McGuire declared that the state must to do a better job of protecting its most vulnerable children.

“There’s no question that California’s foster care system has grown more addicted to mind-altering medication since the legislature’s original hearing on this disturbing subject nearly a decade ago,” Senator McGuire said. “Our state's foster youth deserve better, including access to proactive and sustained mental health services. When medication does become necessary, we need to create a better system that includes assessment and accountability measures.”

During the hearing, Senator McGuire also acknowledged that the issue is bigger than a reliance on over-medication.

“What I see is a system of care that is in need of a new approach and reinvestment. Foster kids have witnessed unspeakable trauma and we must push aside the old excuses and politics and ensure foster youth have the services they need to heal and thrive,” said McGuire.

During the hearing, more than a dozen witnesses testified to the issue of over-prescribed psychotropic medication in the foster care system – from a former foster youth who has survived the system and “found her voice” to directors of mental health and social service organizations.

Over the past several months, numerous experts and media outlets have reported that the state’s most vulnerable children – foster youth – have been over-prescribed mind-altering psychiatric drugs to control their behavior at alarming rates.

Nearly one in four youth in the state’s foster care system have been prescribed psychotropic medication and 56 percent of foster kids living in group homes are prescribed psychotropic drugs.

Of the youth given those medications, nearly 60 percent were prescribed an anti-psychotic – the powerful drug class most susceptible to debilitating side effects.

“We can’t continue with the status quo. We can’t continue to rely on a pill as the primary method of treatment,” McGuire said.

Concluding the four hour hearing, McGuire said the committee will continue to advance the issue with several pieces of legislation that will be moving forward over the next two years.

“We must do better for our kids and we will do better by moving these critical bills forward and holding the state accountable with additional hearings this fall,” McGuire said.