LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 1934 mystery-comedy, “The Thin Man,” screens on Tuesday, March 10, with show times at 1 and 6 p.m.

Nominated for four Academy Awards, the film stars the charming and witty duo, William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett, one of the fathers of noir, “The Thin Man” provides the usual clues, suspects and solution to a murder, but in tone and intent it's more like an all-dialogue version of an Astaire and Rogers musical, with elegant people in luxury hotel penthouses.

Filmed on what MGM considered a B-picture budget and two week schedule this movie quickly proved to be a “sleeper,” spawning a popular film, radio and television series.

Contrary to popular belief, the title does not refer to star William Powell, but to the missing inventor who sets the plot in motion.

Entry to the film is by donation.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0577 and online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Caltrans has provided another status update on the ongoing assessment of corrosion-protecting grout around the tower anchor rods and testing on one rod from the Bay Bridge tower foundation.

Underneath the Bay Bridge deck, there are 152, 6-inch solid steel dowels that prevent the 525 foot steel tower from sliding atop a massive steel and concrete foundation.

There also are 424 high-strength steel anchor rods – each about 25 feet long – that also link the foundation and tower for additional seismic performance during an earthquake.

Last year, one of these anchor rods was subjected to extensive laboratory testing, including soaking it in salt water for extended periods of time and then stressing to failure, a test that helped confirm the anchor rod’s strength.

These 424 anchor rods are surrounded by long steel tubes that are supposed to be filled with grout to prevent water from contacting the steel rods.

Unfortunately, the state’s contractor failed to properly fill all the 424 tubes with grout.

In September 2014, Caltrans inspectors observed water at the base of the SAS tower beneath caulking that was placed around the rods.

A quarter of the tubes were not fully grouted, with several other tubes missing inches to meters of grout.

The state’s contractor took responsibility for the errors and agreed to work with Caltrans to fix this problem.

Since then, contractors have drilled inspection holes in the existing grout, to thoroughly investigate grout and anchor rod conditions.

Tiny cameras called borescopes are being used to help evaluate the grout conditions.  

Workers also removed one of the 424 anchor rods that was not properly grouted in order to conduct extensive laboratory testing including visual inspection, examining the galvanization and mechanical testing.

The purpose of the testing is to determine whether any of the corrosion-protective galvanization on the rod was compromised and, if so, to what extent.

Removing the anchor rod for testing took nearly a month and involved hydraulic torque wrenches and 100-ton jacks.

One preliminary test result shows some galvanization is missing around the threads at the bottom of the anchor rod, leading to potential corrosion of the steel of this one bolt.

Powerful scanning electron microscopes providing 1000-times magnification show a microscopic crack in the anchor rod material. It is too early to develop conclusions about the cause or significance of this observation without additional tests and analysis. 

“We have one preliminary test result that shows a microscopic indication on the surface of the steel of one bolt,” said Dr. Brian Maroney, chief bridge engineer who ordered extensive bolt testing on the bridge. “Given the tremendous forces applied to the rod to remove it for testing, it is too early to determine exactly what this means and we are ordering additional testing. Regardless of what we discover about the past, we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the rods from corrosion going forward.”

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Relay for Life Twisted Family Ties team is planning a yard sale on Saturday, March 7.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. at Clearlake Automotive, 14090 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

For more about the team, which will participate in the May Relay for Life event, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=68316&pg=team&team_id=1686458 .

FINLEY, Calif. – The Lakeport Fire Protection District will conduct a live fire training burn on Sunday, Feb. 22.

District officials said the burn will begin at 8 a.m. and last until early afternoon.

The training will include the burn of a structure at 3467 Stone Drive in Finley just south of the packing sheds. The structure was donated by the owner.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Native Daughters of the Golden West Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 Lake County continue its membership drive to bring the parlor back to life and make it active.

Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 was chartered July 22, 1972.

The group's monthly outreach in local media and its new Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/LakecountyNDGW , appear to be helping to bring new Native Daughters to the meetings.

They continue to look for a permanent meeting location for the monthly meetings, held at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Until that time they will continue to meet at the local Round Table Pizza in Lakeport.

One of the highlights of the monthly meetings is 100-year-old Native Daughter Ruby Glebe and her amazing stories about local history.

She is sharp as a tack and still drives herself to the meetings. She is an absolute treasure and the parlor is happy to have her as a member.

Glebe was one of the signatories on the official parlor charter and that she has been a Native Daughter for 40 years. The parlor recently presented Glebe with a Native Daughters of the Golden West certificate in recognition of her 100th birthday.

All Native Daughters are welcome to attend the monthly meetings.

For more information contact Parlor President Carla Dore, 831-524-5588, or Dee Cuney, 707-235-2902.

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

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Scott Valley Road to Van Sleeper Road through Friday, Feb. 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Hill Road East Overcrossing to the Park Way Overcrossing on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1
 
– AT&T has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility work at various locations from Ocean View Drive to Elk on Friday, Feb. 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Emergency roadway repairs from 1.5 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road to just north of Albion will continue through Friday, Feb. 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the South Mendocino Vista Point to Boice Lane through Friday, Feb. 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Casper Creek will continue through Friday, Feb. 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Emergency roadway repairs 1.0 mile south of Mill Bank Resort will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 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 beginning Monday, Feb. 23. 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., 7 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.

Caltrans wishes to advise 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. (Bold type denotes a change from the previous bulletin.)