LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The State Water Resources Control Board is holding a series of meetings around the state to discuss proposed new rules for septic tanks.

The next meeting will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Wells Fargo Center's Ruth Finley Person Theater, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.

The state's previous attempt to draft new septic tank rules in 2009 was greeted with protests from landowners around the state because of the costs and requirements, causing the state to redraft the guidelines, as Lake County News has reported.

The draft guidelines outline four septic tank system levels:

• Tier 0: Existing system, in good working order, not included in a total maximum daily load implementation – or TMDL – program, more than 600 feet from specifically identified nitrate-impaired water bodies and more than 100 feet from a specifically identified pathogen-impaired water bodies.

• Tier 1: System is not installed or needs to be replaced, and local agency does not have an approved Tier 2 program.

• Tier 2: System is not installed or needs to be replaced, and local agency has an approved Tier 2 program.

• Tier 3: New or existing system is included in TMDL program and must comply with it, or where there is no TMDL in place and an existing system is located within 600 feet from a specifically identified nitrogen-impaired body or within 100 feet from a specifically identified pathogen-impaired body; or where no TMDL is in place and a new system is within 600 feet of any nitrogen- or pathogen-impaired body.

• Tier 4: Existing system is failing and found to be polluting groundwater or surface water to a degree that it affects drinkability or other beneficial uses. System must be modified or upgraded as appropriate to the situation.

The water board has created a mapping tool to help property owners determine how they may be affected by the new rules, which can be found at http://gispublic.waterboards.ca.gov/webmap/owts/owtsmap.html.

If a property is not within 2,000 feet of a nitrogen- or pathogen-impaired water body, the mapping tool's explanation says it is “likely” that a property owner only will need to consult a local permitting agency for what requirements they have to meet if their system fails, or they plan to upgrade or replace their system.

Clear Lake is not a nitrogen- or pathogen-impaired water body; however, it is under a TMDL for nutrients, according to state officials.

Under the new draft policy, there would not be mandatory solids or water well testing for every tank, and property owners wouldn't be required to provide operating manuals at the time of a property sale.

The estimated cost over 10 years for owners of existing, functioning septic tank systems not near impaired waters would be $0, whereas it was expected to cost as much as $1,000 under the 2009 proposed guidelines.

The state's draft septic tank rules says that only 2,755 of Lake County's 857,072 acres – or 0.3 percent – is suitable for septic tank absorption fields based on California soil surveys, one of the lowest percentages of the state's survey areas.

In comparison, in neighboring Sonoma County, soils on 61,451 acres – or 6.1 percent – of its approximately 1,010,560 acres are suitable for septic tank absorption fields, the report shows.

According to state estimates, about 15,000 Lake County homes have septic tanks, although Lake County Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski told Lake County News in a previous interview that his agency does not have a precise county on just how many homes in the county use septic tanks.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

2011 State Water Board Draft Septic Tank Policy

John Wesley Dunn, 27, received the not guilty verdict on one count of rape on Thursday.

“The jury saw and heard all the evidence and we are grateful to the them for seeing through this accuser and for finally vindicating Mr. Dunn with the not guilty verdict. They heard Mr. Dunn testify and they heard the accuser testify and they saw the truth of this case,” said his attorney, Stephen Carter, of the Law Offices of Carter & Carter in Lower Lake.

Prosecutor Ed Borg could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Dunn was arrested on Aug. 7, 2009, for rape, kidnap with intent to commit rape and assault with the intent to commit rape after a 25-year-old Hidden Valley Lake woman who was a casual acquaintance accused him of sexually assaulting her, according to the original sheriff's report.

Following Dunn's December 2009 preliminary hearing, the additional charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence, but the prosecution was allowed to pursue the rape charge, as Lake County News has reported.

The woman who made the allegations to sheriff's officials claimed that she did not remember anything that happened because she was too intoxicated from drinking at Twin Pine Casino the evening before, on July 31, 2009.

According to testimony, the woman pulled Dunn onto the dance floor at the casino and began “freak dancing,” and she reportedly begged him to leave the casino and have sex with her. Dunn took her home and they exchanged amicable texts the next day, but later – after her young child's birthday party – she contacted authorities to report that she had been raped.

Evidence presented at trial included a casino surveillance video that showed Dunn carrying the woman to his car. Carter demonstrated to the jury – based on additional casino video – that the woman and Dunn walked to his car after he carried her a short way, at her request, because her feet hurt from dancing in heels all night and she had removed her shoes. The jury viewed this video again during deliberations.

The woman also was unable to recall the sex act itself or whether or not she asked to have sex with Dunn, according to testimony.

While the prosecution argued that the woman was too intoxicated to consent to sex, the defense countered that there was no reliable evidence of her intoxication level or Dunn's, and that they were consenting adults.

“Is it rape when two intoxicated people have sexual relations? If so, how is it determined which one raped the other?” Carter asked.

When he initially was arrested and charged, Dunn – who has no criminal record – was facing life in prison, and he was held on $350,000 bail.

However, after three weeks in jail and following a lengthy bail hearing on Aug. 28, 2009 – in which 15 friends and community members stepped forward to testify to his character – Dunn was released on his own recognizance.

Since then, Dunn and his family have faced numerous hardships because of the case, according to his attorney.

Dunn, who was the assistant golf pro at the Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course at the time of his arrest, lost his job as a result of the case. Likewise, his father – who shares the same name – also lost his job because of the allegations against his son, Carter said.

Carter said Dunn should have never been arrested or changed with anything.

He added that there was no evidence of anything resembling rape on Dunn's part.

“This case is government overreaching at its absolute worst,” Carter said.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the clinic, located at 15145 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

The open house will provide an opportunity for veterans and the community to meet clinic staff and learn more about services offered to Lake County veterans. There will be light refreshments for all who attend.

The Clearlake VA Clinic opened on Nov. 1, 2010.

Since its opening, it has served about 1,200 veterans, according to Judi Cheary of the San Francisco VA Medical Center, which operates the Clearlake clinic as well as outpatient clinics in San Bruno, Ukiah, Eureka, Santa Rosa and downtown San Francisco.

The Clearlake clinic offers expanded services to veterans including primary care, outpatient mental health, immunizations, nutrition counseling, laboratory, podiatry, physical examinations, medication refills from the VA pharmacy, social work services, medical advice nurse, enrollment in VA health care and referrals for specialty services.

For veterans who need help with transportation to appointments, the VA operates a free shuttle service between the clinic and various locations in Lake County on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

An estimated 8,000 veterans live in Lake County. Those not already taking advantage of the clinic's services can call 707-995-7200 for more information, or visit the clinic online at www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/cboc/clearlake.asp.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

The color on this Cinderella pumpkin at Leonardis Organics in Kelseyville, Calif., will deepen to a dark reddish orange as it matures. Photo by Esther Oertel.

After yesterday’s final farmers’ market of the season, I walked through soil and frost-bitten leaves to photograph pumpkins for today’s column at a local farm, Leonardis Organics in Kelseyville, Calif.

The result of the season’s first frost is that these mostly orange orbs were exposed in the field, no longer hidden by their large living leaves.

Pumpkins and other winter squash will ripen off the vine, so those that are not quite ripe when their vine dies will continue to develop color and flavor, both in the field and after they’re picked.

There are dozens of varieties of pumpkins and a fair number of them are represented in Leonardis’ crop, from large ones with thin flesh for carving Jack-O-Lanterns to small ones with sweet, dense flesh for pies.

Pumpkins are a type of winter squash and share a family tree with summer squashes, cucumbers, and gourds.

In other parts of the English-speaking world, such as Australia, the word “pumpkin” refers to any type of thick-skinned winter squash, rather than the orange-skinned varieties that are exclusively referred to by the moniker here in the United States.

The word itself has an interesting history. It originates from the Greek word for large melon, pepon, which the French adapted to pompon. The British morphed the French word into pumpion, and, finally, American colonists changed that to the word we know today, pumpkin.

The exact origin of pumpkin is not known, but they are believed to be native to North America. The oldest evidence for this are ancient pumpkin-like seeds found in Mexico that are estimated to be from sometime between 7000 to 5500 B.C.

The ancestor of today’s pumpkin was elongated with a crooked neck and was cultivated in ancient American cultures along creek banks in companion plantings with sunflowers and beans.

These Cinderella pumpkins at Leonardis Organics in Kelseyville, Calif., are so named because they resemble the pumpkin turned into a coach by the Cinderella's fairy godmother. They're good for eating, as well as for decorative purposes. Photo by Esther Oertel.

These pumpkin relatives were cultivated before maize, the ancestor of modern-day corn. Once maize became a staple crop, ancient farmers grew it with pumpkins and beans using a method known as the “Three Sisters.”

In this tradition, maize stalks served as trellises for the climbing beans, the beans provided stability for the maize and added nitrogen to the soil, and the squash plants sheltered the shallow roots of the corn and shaded the ground, which discouraged weeds and preserved moisture.

These Native American peoples relied on the pumpkin as a food source that sustained them through the winter. They utilized the entire fruit, including the flesh, which they roasted, baked, boiled, and dried; the seeds, which they ate and used medicinally; and the blossoms, which they added to stews.

In addition, the flesh which was dried was ground into flour, and pumpkin shells were dried for bowls and storage containers. Strips of dried pumpkin were even made into mats that could be used for trading.

Pumpkins are grown successfully on every continent save Antarctica. They’re enjoyed in cuisines throughout the world, including China, where, for example, the leaves are used as a vegetable or an ingredient in soup; India, where it’s used in a variety of regional cuisines and sometimes cooked with butter and spices; Thailand, where its flesh is used in curry dishes and small, custard-filled pumpkins comprise a dessert; the Middle East, where it’s enjoyed in sweet dishes; Japan, where it’s used in tempura; Mexico and the southwestern U.S, where the blossoms are enjoyed; Italy, where it stuffs ravioli and flavors beverages; and Kenya, where pumpkin flesh is boiled and the leaves are called seveve and used in popular dishes.

This list, of course, is partial, both in terms of the cuisines listed and the manner in which pumpkin is used, but it serves to show the diversity of ways pumpkin can be prepared. All parts of the pumpkin, its flesh, seeds, leaves, and blossoms, are edible.

Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are especially healthy. They may be slippery and hard to handle when scooped out of the hollow of a pumpkin, but they’re easily transformed into a delicious toasted snack.

Wash them to remove the bits of fiber that may be clinging to them and pat them dry. Toss them with a bit of oil, lightly salt them, and spread them out on a baking sheet.

Bake them in a low oven, about 250 degrees F, until they’re golden, crisp, and dry, which takes about an hour. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to prevent scorching.

Alternatively, they may be toasted on the stove top in a skillet or in a hotter oven. In both cases, they’ll cook much more quickly, but should be hovered over to prevent burning.

This medley of pumpkins at Leonardis Organics in Kelseyville, Calif. include two which are bred for pies, the New England pie and and sugar pie pumpkins. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Canned pumpkin is quick and convenient for things such as pies, soups, or custards; however, when fresh squashes are available, a bit of effort will yield a lovely home-made puree. If doing this, be sure to use pumpkins that are intended for use in pies or cooking. Pumpkins grown for carving Jack-O-Lanterns have little flesh, and since they’re not bred for eating, the taste is inferior.

To make fresh pumpkin puree, cut a pumpkin into wedges of about 4 or 5 inches and brush the flesh sides with melted butter or olive oil. Arrange them flesh side down in a roasting pan and cover with aluminum foil.

Roast the pumpkin pieces in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven until the flesh is very tender and may be pierced with a fork, about two hours, turning after the first hour. Remove the foil and let the pumpkin cool.

Once cool, discard any liquid that may have collected, scoop out pumpkin flesh, and puree in batches in a food processor. Transfer the puree to a large sieve or colander with several layers of cheesecloth set over a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to drain at least 8 hours or overnight.

Pumpkin is low in calories and sodium, but high in fiber, and the seeds are rich in protein, iron, and B vitamins. The flesh has high stores of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A. Research has shown that beta-carotene is helpful in preventing heart disease and some cancers, and even helps delay the aging process.

Today’s recipe is adapted from the medley of roasted vegetables I offered in a culinary demo at yesterday’s Lake County Farmers’ Finest final market of the season. The original recipe utilizes butternut squash, but pumpkin will substitute well.

Use a small to medium-sized cooking pumpkin, cut it into wedges, and then cut into cubes. I find it’s easier to remove the outer skin by cutting it off once the pumpkin’s been cubed. Enjoy!

Roasted pumpkin with apples, onion, and crispy sage

About six cups of cubed fresh pumpkin, skin removed

3 large or 4 medium apples, any variety other than the most tart, peeled and cubed

2 large onions, peeled and cubed

20 or more fresh sage leaves, stems removed

Extra virgin olive oil, ½ cup to crisp sage plus more for roasting

Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

Toss the pumpkin, apple, and onion together in a large bowl with just enough olive oil to coat so each piece is glossy.

Spread mixture on a baking sheet (you may need more than one) and roast in a 400 degree F oven for an hour or so, stirring every 15 minutes, until cubes are fork tender and caramelized. Typically, they will be tender after 30 minutes, but will need to stay in longer to brown.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan on stovetop until hot. (It’s ready when a drop of water makes it sizzle.)

Throw in a few sage leaves in the hot oil and cook for a few seconds until crispy. (Be careful as oil may splatter!) The leaves are ready when their green color deepens and they become crisp. If they become brown, they lose flavor. Remove leaves to a paper towel to drain. Repeat until all leaves are crispy.

When roasting process is complete, turn roasted cubes into a large bowl. Crumble sage leaves over mixture and toss to combine. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper, if needed.

Serve warm as a side dish or at room temperature as an autumn salad.

Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel gives private cooking lessons. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

This pumpkin of unknown variety at Leonardis Organics in Kelseyville, Calif., is named Lorrie Gray by Leonardis, from whom he obtained the seeds. Gray is involved with the Lake County Hunger Task Force. Photo by Esther Oertel.

The Lucerne Hotel in Lucerne, Calif., will be the location for a special town hall on Thursday, November 17, 2011. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Community members are invited to a special town hall meeting in Lucerne on Thursday, Nov. 17.

District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing will host the gathering, which begins at 4:30 p.m. in the main hall of the historic Lucerne Hotel – also known as “The Castle – located at the end of 13th Avenue and Country Club Drive.

Topics will include community redevelopment status, county projects and issues, an update on the Lucerne Hotel, the new Lake County Mental Health offices on 13^th Avenue, a law enforcement update and an open forum.

Free tables will be set up for local groups, businesses or organizations wishing to distribute literature.

For more information, contact 707-263-2368 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With Halloween just around the corner, a full weekend of fall events is planned around the county for community members of all ages.

Halloween this year is on Monday, Oct. 31, but the fun will kick off on Friday in Lakeport and move around the lake through to Monday, when the city of Clearlake's annual festivities for children will take place.

Below is a listing of local Halloween events. If we've missed something, e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll update the listing, the Lake County News calendar and also post it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Tumblr.

Friday, Oct. 28

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Lakeport Halloween Parade

The annual Halloween parade for first through third graders from Lakeport Elementary School will take place from noon to 1:15 p.m. through downtown. Street closures will take place on Second and Main streets, Ninth and Main streets, and Second to Ninth streets along Main Street. Information: Lakeport Public Works Department, 707-263-0751.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

Lakeport Speedway Haunted House

The Lakeport Speedway, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, will host a haunted house from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-279-9577, www.lakeportspeedway.com.

Haunted barn, graveyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch

Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, will host a haunted barn and graveyard for adults and a not-so-scary kids corn maze and pumpkin patch from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., daytime by appointment through the weekend. The cost is $3 for children ages 6 to 12 in costume ($5 without). Information: 707-263-3160, www.ranchweddingevents.com.

'Scary Night Under the Stars'

The Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium, 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville, will host a “Scary Night Under the Stars” from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Find out what's up in the night sky. Amateur astronomers will be on hand to share their telescopes and knowledge with the general public. Planetarium show tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children under age 12. Information: 707-262-4121, www.lake-coe.k12.ca.us/apps/comm.asp?Q=96. A map to the observatory can be found at http://lakecoe.org/apps/comm.asp?%241=126.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Halloween at Six Sigma Ranch

Celebrate Halloween at Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, 13372 Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No tricks or costumes necessary but there will be treats for all to enjoy. Weekend activities will include complimentary Pinzgauer tours (regularly $25 per person) to the Diamond Mine Vineyard, elevation 1,700 feet. Along the way guests will enjoy spectacular views, observe different microclimates, and if it’s an especially clear day, Lake Berryessa may be visible in the distance. The tour takes about 45 minutes round trip. The Pinzgauer, a 1973 Austrian-made all-terrain vehicle, can seat up to 10 people. Advance reservations are required. The Six Sigma Ranch pumpkin patch produced some lovely pumpkins this year as did the apple trees adjacent to the tasting room. The Ahlmann family will be sharing the bounty of their small harvest with Halloween weekend guests, while supply lasts. A complementary tasting of current release wines, available to guests 21 and older, also will be served at the picnic tables under the oak trees. Information: 707-994-4068, www.sixsigmaranch.com.

Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center Halloween

Bowl in costume in the Singles 9 Pin “Under the Sheets” No Tap Tournament at the Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center, 872 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport. The tournament starts at 2 p.m. Win prizes, win best in costume and much more. Entries close Saturday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m.; check-in at 1 p.m., tournament starts at 2 p.m. The cost is $15. Come in to register or call 707-263-4828 for a faxed sign-up form. Information: www.lakesidefamilyfun.com.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins , costume contest and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

Sons of Italy Halloween dinner, dance

Enjoy a Halloween party dinner and dance at the Sons of Italy club hall, 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice. The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m. then dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Enjoy dancing to music of the High Notes right after the meal. Dress up for the costume contest and win a prize. All tickets cost $15 at the door. Everyone is welcome. Information: 707-263-1606.

Zino's Ristorante Halloween Party

Zino's Ristorante, 6330 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, will host a Halloween Party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring a special menu with prime rib and other specials. Lake County's piano man, David Neft, will entertain. Come in costume or just come down and watch the fun. Prizes will be offered for the best costume. Information: 707-279-1620.

Lakeport Speedway Haunted House

The Lakeport Speedway, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, will host a haunted house from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-279-9577, www.lakeportspeedway.com.

NCRA Races with Halloween Smash Boat Race and Truck Derby

The Lakeport Speedway, located at the Lake County Fairgrounds at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, will host the Halloween Smash Boat Race and Truck Derby from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission fee. Information: 707-279-9577, www.lakeportspeedway.com.

Haunted barn, graveyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch

Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, will host a haunted barn and graveyard for adults and a not-so-scary kids corn maze and pumpkin patch from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., daytime by appointment through the weekend. The cost is $3 for children ages 6 to 12 in costume ($5 without). Information: 707-263-3160, www.ranchweddingevents.com.

Halloween Metal Mosh 2011

The Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, 15900 E. Highway 20, will host the Halloween Metal Mosh from 7 p.m. to midnight. The concern will feature Live the Day, Hexafiend, Blitzenhamer and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door. Live bands, full bar and food, and Halloween costume contest.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins , costume contest and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

Haunted barn, graveyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch

Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, will host a haunted barn and graveyard for adults and a not-so-scary kids corn maze and pumpkin patch from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., daytime by appointment through the weekend. The cost is $3 for children ages 6 to 12 in costume ($5 without). Information: 707-263-3160, www.ranchweddingevents.com.

Monday, Oct. 31

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Downtown Lakeport Trick-or-Treat

Thirty-six Lakeport stores will open their doors to trick-or-treating youngsters in costume from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Families are invited to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween on Main Street concluding at 4 p.m. with a costume contest on Museum Square. The event is free of charge. Maps indicating trick or treat locations are available at participating businesses or at the Lakeport Main Street Association desk in the lobby of City Hall at Second and Park Streets. Information: Carol Hays, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-263-8843.

City of Clearlake Trick-or-Treat Party

The city of Clearlake will host its annual Trick-Or-Treat party from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive. City staff and police officers will volunteer their time to dress up and hand out goodies and reflective treat bags to community children as a safe alternative to trick-or treating in unknown neighborhoods. Refreshments also will be available for children and parents to enjoy. Cameras are welcome. Trick or treating at Clearlake City Hall is now in its fifth year of festive community tradition. Information: 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins , costume contest and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

McBoo Costume Contest

The Lakeport McDonald's, 1400 Todd Road, will host the McBoo Costume Contest. Sign ups begin at 5:15 p.m. with the costume parade at 6:15 pm. There are three age divisions: 0 to 4 years; 5 to 8 years; and 9 to 12 years. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in each division. First place will win a $100 savings bond. Fun and candy for all.

Halloween Festival

Tatonka Trading and Mini Golf and Burger Time will host a free Halloween festival from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Tatonka Trading, 14240 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. There will be games and prizes, candy, free sweatshirts and more. Volunteers are needed to run games and fill candy bags; call Barbara Greer at Burger Time, 707-995-1004.

Lakeport Kiwanis Club Halloween Party

The Lakeport Kiwanis Club presents its annual Halloween Party from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake High School gym, 350 Lange St. A safe, free and fun evening featuring game booths, candy prizes and a costume contest to amuse and delight children of all ages.

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Hollows inside the Raditladi impact basin. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington.

NASA's Messenger spacecraft has discovered strange hollows on the surface of Mercury.

Images taken from orbit reveal thousands of peculiar depressions at a variety of longitudes and latitudes, ranging in size from 60 feet to over a mile across and 60 to 120 feet deep.

No one knows how they got there.

“These hollows were a major surprise,” said David Blewett, science team member from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. “We've been thinking of Mercury as a relic – a place that's really not changing much anymore, except by impact cratering. But the hollows appear to be younger than the craters in which they are found, and that means Mercury's surface is still evolving in a surprising way.”

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted similar depressions in the carbon dioxide ice at Mars' south pole, giving that surface a "swiss cheese" appearance. But on Mercury they're found in rock and often have bright interiors and halos.

“We've never seen anything quite like this on a rocky surface,” said Blewett.

If you could stand in one of these “sleepy” hollows on Mercury's surface, you'd find yourself, like Ichabod Crane, in a quiet, still, haunting place, with a black sky above your head.

“There's essentially no atmosphere on Mercury,” explained Blewett. “And with no atmosphere, wind doesn't blow and rain doesn't fall. So the hollows weren't carved by wind or water. Other forces must be at work.”

As the planet closest to the Sun, Mercury is exposed to fierce heat and extreme space weather. Blewett believes these factors play a role.

A key clue, he said, is that many of the hollows are associated with central mounds or mountains inside Mercury's impact craters.

These so-called “peak rings” are thought to be made of material forced up from the depths by the impact that formed the crater. Excavated material could be unstable when it finds itself suddenly exposed at Mercury's surface.

“Certain minerals, for example those that contain sulfur and other volatiles, would be easily vaporized by the onslaught of heat, solar wind, and micrometeoroids that Mercury experiences on a daily basis,” Blewett said. “Perhaps sulfur is vaporizing, leaving just the other minerals, and therefore weakening the rock and making it spongier. Then the rock would crumble and erode more readily, forming these depressions.”

Messenger has indeed proven Mercury unexpectedly rich in sulfur. That in itself is a surprise that's forcing scientists to rethink how Mercury was formed.

The prevailing models suggest that either very early in Solar System history, during the final sweep-up of the large planetesimals that formed the planets, a colossal impact tore off much of Mercury's rocky outer layering; or a hot phase of the early Sun heated up the surface enough to scorch off the outer layers. In either case, the elements with a low boiling point – volatiles like sulfur and potassium – would have been driven off.

But they're still there.

“The old models just don't fit with the new data, so we'll have to look at other hypotheses,” said Blewett.

To figure out how the planets and Solar System came to be, scientists must understand Mercury.

“It's the anchor at one end of the Solar System,” said Blewett. “Learning how Mercury formed will have major implications for the rest of the planets. And Messenger is showing that, up to now, we've been completely wrong about this little world in so many ways!”

What other surprises does Mercury hold? The sleepy hollows of the innermost planet may be just the beginning.

Dauna Coulter works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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These persons include your children's own spouses and your spouse's own parents and siblings.

In-laws are important for various reasons. First, they may have inheritance rights in regards to your blood relatives' estates. Second, they have influence over your blood relatives. And, third, they may have become important to you personally based on your own relationship to them.

Let us examine how one's in-laws are a factor to be considered in estate planning.

In-laws may be either a positive or negative factor in helping you decide how to proceed with your estate plan.

On the bright side, in-laws who are trustworthy, capable and willing might have a possible helpful role in assisting in the administration of your affairs. That assistance might be either for your own benefit or the benefit of someone else.

For example, one might decide to name an in-law as his or her alternative agent and/or alternative successor trustee to act for his or her benefit under a power of attorney and trust, respectively, if and when one became disabled.

In such situations, I often find that if an in-law is so named as a possible alternative it is in case other blood relatives are unable to fulfill that role.

Another scenario where an in-law might assist involves a hypothetical brother who find it either necessary or beneficial to leave his disabled sister's inheritance in further trust and not outright to the sister.

That might be so if the sister is receiving Medi-Cal at a skilled nursing facility. Then the sister's at-home spouse might act as trustee of a special needs trust and so receive the sister's inheritance to prevent disqualification from needs-based benefits.

Also, consider the grandparents of an under-age (minor) grandchild who inherits in place of their deceased child. The grandparents may decide to name the grandchild's surviving parent (i.e., their deceased child's own surviving spouse) to control their grandchild's inheritance.

On the darker side, however, one's in-laws might sometimes present a real concern. This might be due to strained family relations and/or the in-law's own personal characteristics.

For example, in such a case one might well be concerned that any inheritance left outright to a blood relative (such as one's child) might come under the negative undue influence of that child's spouse.

In the extreme, consider the unfortunate parent of a weak-willed child who is married to a manipulating and dissolute spouse.

That same parent might decide it best to not leave the child an inheritance outright but to keep such inheritance in a trust managed by someone dependable as trustee for the child's benefit. Otherwise, if left outright to the child, that inheritance may be lost one way or another due to the self-serving

manipulation of the child's spouse.

Furthermore, that same parent is unlikely to wish to name that weak willed child as successor trustee lest that child's spouse again manipulate or frustrate the administration of the trust to the detriment of all concerned.

Lastly, on a positive note, many people often choose to leave something to a favored daughter-in-law or son-in-law as a token of their affection.

Such as, a daughter-in-law may be allowed to participate in selecting some items of jewelry, or a son-in-law may be given some items of personal property (e.g., golf clubs or a gun collection).

Hopefully your in-laws have enriched your life and the lives of your loved ones, thus endearing

themselves in your own heart.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney (LL.M. tax studies), is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law. His office is at 55 First St., Lakeport, California. Dennis can be reached by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 707-263-3235. Visit his Web site at www.dennisfordhamlaw.com.

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Winding roadways, infrastructure, speed and weather conditions are among the factors that affect travel along county roadways. This vehicle went into the Rodman Slough in Lake County, Calif., on Tuesday, March 2, 2011. The crash, which resulted in no injuries for the car's occupants, was one of many during the year so far involving vehicles going into Clear Lake. Photo by Gary McAuley.

This is the first installment of a special series on highway safety and its impact on Lake County residents’ health.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sweeping vistas, clear blue skies, colorful countryside – all define Lake County's geography.

Traversing the landscape are numerous roadways, winding between lakes and mountains, dotted by wildlife and, at times, busier thanks to the tourist season.

Highways 20, 29 and 53 link Interstate 5 with Interstate 101, establishing Lake County as a primary traffic thoroughfare for travelers.

For motorists, the roads are both beautiful and harrowing, with the number of vehicle crashes in recent years showing a marked increase.

The 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment identified vehicle crashes as a significant health concern for county residents, pointing to evidence that the rate of fatal vehicle collisions in Lake County was well above state and national averages.

Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait said many of Lake County's health challenges, even simple tasks like driving to the store, result from the nature of rural living.

“Rural areas just have more accidents of all types,” said Tait.

In addition, Lake County's road infrastructure has been identified as needing significant improvement, and numerous health studies have pointed to higher-than-average rates of drug and alcohol abuse.

Then, there is the changing nature of society, where greater access to technology can sometimes translate into increased distractions when behind the wheel.

Lt. Mark Loveless, former commander of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake area office – who earlier this year took a new assignment in Trinity County – said he's seen more collisions resulting from drivers using their cell phones to send texts and place calls, despite the fact the practice is illegal.

“That's not specific to Lake County,” he said, adding that people forget how important it is to stay focused when driving.

Early this year, Lake County News was selected for a California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships from the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.

The purpose of the fellowship is to study a significant health issue affecting our readership.

The result is a series of articles focusing on Lake County's high number of vehicle crashes, listed among nine causes of death for Lake County residents that surpass state and national rates, according to figures included in the 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment.

In addition to this assessment, other sources for this special series include the Lake County Health Department, California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Transportation, Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, Clearlake Police Department, Lakeport Police Department, Lake County/City Area Planning Council, the California Department of Public Health, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's county health rankings and the 2010 U.S. Census.

As part of the project, Lake County News has created a first-of-its-kind map for the community – to be introduced later in the series – which documents crash statistics from Jan. 1, 2006 to today.

The map, created with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, Lakeport Police and Clearlake Police, will become a permanent, regularly updated feature of Lake County News' Web site.

In addition to the map, the assessment of county roads that will be presented in the series will include an evaluation of contributing factors and what steps officials are taking to address the problems, including grant projects.

Another part of the series will consider whether measures taken to improve safety actually succeed, and how state and local officials determine where safety projects should be completed.

By the numbers

The 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment reported that over a three-year period – 2006 to 2008 – Lake County’s motor vehicle crash age-adjusted death rate was 22. That’s compared to the state rate of 10 and the national rate of 14, and well above the national health objective of eight, established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010, which sets goals and objectives for health.

Historically, Lake County's highways have been challenging. Residents’ accounts of county roads and highways describe narrow and treacherous byways which predate the arrival of the automobile at the turn of the 20th century.

Today's highways are safer, but still pose their challenges, as they move through narrow mountain passes and along the lake's curving shores.

The county's tourism trade and a growth in population over the past decade – 20 percent, based on state population estimates – appear to be contributing factors to rising crash rates.

Most factors affecting Lake County's high crash rate are fairly basic in nature, Tait said.

For one, road quality is a part of the equation, according to the Lake County 2030 Blueprint, a planning document completed in October 2010 by the Lake County/City Area Planning Council.

The document, funded through Caltrans grants, provides county governments a coordinated regional framework to help guide planning decisions.

The blueprint quotes a projection from the California Department of Finance Research Unit that Lake County’s population is projected to grow to around 101,000 residents by 2030, roughly a 55-percent increase. The latest U.S. Census numbers put the population just under 65,000.

“Poor road conditions and lack of safe bicycle and pedestrian access,” are the county's No. 1 challenge, according to the document. Lack of access to shopping and services, lack of medical resources and transportation to health care, and drug use also were cited.

Average pavement conditions ranked as poor

June 2008 pavement studies for Lake County, Lakeport and Clearlake, completed by the Lake County City Area Planning Council, didn't offer a promising picture for county roadways.

The study’s pavement condition index includes five rankings: very poor, 0-25; poor, 26-50; fair, 51-70; good, 71-90; and excellent, 91-100.

The unincorporated county's overall ranking was 32, or “poor,” with only 12.1 percent of county pavement in the “good” or “excellent” condition category.

“There is very little good news to present in this report,” the report on county roads stated, adding that the county’s existing budget of $300,000 per year for road maintenance isn’t enough to maintain roads, and that the pavement condition index is likely to decrease to 12, in the “very poor/failed” category, over the next decade.

The report recommended the county increase its current funding level for road maintenance to at least $8.9 million per year – an unlikely outcome for the small rural county – and increase inspections for streets. Estimated total road replacement costs for the entire county are $468.3 million.

A similar report completed for Lakeport found the city had estimated road replacement costs of $58 million, an average pavement condition index score of 35, still in the “poor” category, and had 12.2 percent of its pavement in the “good” or “excellent” category. If the city isn’t able to increase its road maintenance budget, but 2017 the average road condition rating is anticipated to drop to 13, or the lowest level, “very poor/failed.”

Clearlake's pavement picture was slightly better. It also ranked in the poor category, with a pavement condition index of 39. Overall, 17.5 percent of the city's roads rated as good or excellent. Because of budget constraints, road conditions are expected to decline to a 19 rating in the next decade. Total road replacement for the city would cost $53.3 million.

City and county officials said pavement condition index updates now under way and expected to be released by early 2012 show improvements in those numbers thanks to the completion of a number of projects over the last few years.

Additional studies identify vehicle crash rate as health issue

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's county health rankings, released this spring, concluded that Lake County's motor vehicle crash fatality rate placed it in the 90th percentile for California counties – among the worst in the state – for years 2001 to 2007.

Lake County received a crude death rate score of 28 deaths per 100,000 population, the same rate as Amador and Tuolumne counties.

Other rural areas like Glenn, Del Norte and Trinity – the latter two having mountainous and winding roads often traversed by tourists – had worse rankings than Lake, at 29, 31 and 47 per 100,000 population, respectively.

In assessing the impacts of motor vehicle crashes on public health, Lake County's geography and infrastructure can't be ignored, said Tait.

Along with having to travel longer for some services – and stay on the road longer for minor errands – Tait said some of Lake County's roadways are narrower, have less lightning and have wildlife crossing them as well.

“I'm really pretty convinced that that basic infrastructure is what really makes a difference,” she said.

Tait said on a recent drive to a local friend's house she realized that the roadway where she was driving wasn't really wide enough for two lanes.

“Some of our roads just aren't really what people expect,” she said, especially for visitors and tourists who may find themselves off the beaten path.

With Lake County's dark roadways, abrupt road edges and lack of engineering in some places, it can be a unique challenge, said Tait.

“People who live here, the prudent ones, learn to be cautious,” she said, adding that not everyone is.

But perhaps more significant still is the impact of alcohol use by drivers who take to the county's roads.

The 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment found Lake County’s average rate of alcohol-involved motor vehicle fatalities for 2001 to 2003 was three times higher than the state average.

In the next installment, assessing the impact of alcohol use on highway safety.

This Lake County News special series was produced as a project for the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships, a program of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment

The lifting of the suspension is effective Monday, Oct. 31, at 8 a.m.

Until fire season has been declared closed by Unit Chief Tim Streblow all burn piles in the State Responsibility Area must be inspected by Cal Fire personnel, prior to ignition.

The recent wet weather has alleviated the dry fuel conditions which triggered the permit suspension earlier in the summer, Cal Fire reported.

“Although the suspension has been lifted, permits are still required, and that despite the welcomed rainfall, a period of dry windy condition could dry fuels to the point where wild land fires are possible,” said Unit Chief Tim Streblow.

With the lifting of the burn suspension in State of Responsibility Areas, residents who hold a Cal Fire permit may resume burning, subject to the regulations of their local fire departments and air quality districts. Burn restrictions still exist in areas of the unit.

Check with you local fire official prior to burning, or call Lake County Air Quality Management District, 707-263-7000.

Property owners who burn outside of the regulations, or allow a fire to escape, may be subject to citations by Cal Fire.

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This is the second installment of a special series on highway safety and its impact on Lake County residents’ health.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Last year, county health officials and partner agencies, groups and hospitals completed the 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment.

That document looked at a number of significant health topics in an effort to help policymakers address areas of concern.

Among its findings: Based on county and state public health statistics, between 2006 to 2008 Lake County’s motor vehicle crash death rate was more than twice the state level, nearly twice the national level and close to three times the national health objective.

The Lake County Health Needs Assessment also found Lake County’s average rate of alcohol-involved motor vehicle fatalities for 2001 to 2003 was three times higher than the state average.

Those rates concerned public health officials like Dr. Karen Tait, the county's health officer, who pointed out that Lake County's roadways already are challenging due to the area's unique geography.

Those roads, combined with drivers under the influence, has led to an increasingly deadly situation on county roadways.

A man from Lakeport, Calif., died on Sunday, January 2, 2011, after his vehicle slammed into a fence near Upper Lake, Calif. A fence cross member hit the man in the face and killed him, but his passenger was unhurt. The California Highway Patrol concluded the driver was under the influence. Photo by Gary McAuley.

Local crash rates higher than state, national averages

A California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs report, “Indicators of Alcohol and Other Drug Risk and Consequences for CA Counties – 2010,” found that Lake County's rate of alcohol-involved vehicle collisions was “significantly higher” than the state's annual average.

Between 2000 and 2008, Lake County's number of alcohol-involved motor vehicle fatalities showed significant variations, but in 2007 it was ranked fifth-highest in the state, with a per capita ranking of 13.80, compared to a statewide per capita crash rating of 3.94.

While the report considers alcohol-involved motor vehicle collisions, it doesn't look at the rate of drug-involved collisions.

A Lake County News analysis of DUI- and drug-related crashes from 2006 to 2010 shows that drug use amongst people involved in fatal collisions was equal to – and, in some cases, slightly greater than – alcohol use.

The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs report showed that deaths due to drug and alcohol abuse have gained Lake County an average statewide ranking as second-highest in California.

In 2006 Lake was the county with the highest rate of death related to alcohol and drug use in California, the report showed.

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's county health rankings, completed earlier this year, found that Lake County's motor vehicle crash fatality rate was ranked among the worst in the state between 2001 and 2007.

The study suggested that a major contributing factor to that high crash rate was alcohol use, with “excessive drinking” another serious health factor in the county – a conclusion similar to those reached in the county needs health assessment.

The University of Wisconsin study defined excessive drinking as consuming more than four drinks for women or five drinks for men on a single occasion in the previous 30 days, or heavy drinking, defined as drinking more than one drink for women or two drinks for men per day on average.

The California Department of Public Health's County Health Status Profiles for 2011, which looked at the years 2007 through 2009, showed that Lake County had an age-adjusted death rate from motor vehicle crashes of 20.9 per 100,000 population.

That rate is more than twice the statewide average of 9.2, and well above the Healthy People 2010 national health objective of 8. The 2011 figures gained Lake County a statewide rank of 54th worst out of 58 counties.

Looking at a wider set of data, a review of California County Health Status Profiles from 1999 to 2011 showed a dynamic change in the vehicle crash and death rate during that time period, with the number of deaths and the county's ranking climbing dramatically beginning in the 2000-01 timeframe.

The news on county crashes isn't all negative. One study, the Lake County Maternal, Child and Adolescent Needs Assessment: 2010-2014, showed that progress had been made in reducing motor vehicle injuries for children and youth.

Mirroring national trends

Not all research shows Lake County's numbers topping national trends. In fact, based on a recent federal report, when it comes to the number of fatal crashes involving driving under the influence, Lake County's numbers appeared just slightly below the national average in 2010.

An October report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Vital Signs: Alcohol-Impaired Driving Among Adults – United States, 2010” reports that nearly 11,000 crash fatalities, or about one third of all crash fatalities in the United States in 2010, were attributed to DUI.

According to the data Lake County News gathered from local law enforcement, 16 fatalities occurred on local roadways in 2010; of those, four – or 25 percent – were concluded to be DUI-related.

Looking at a larger statistical sample provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show, the information showed that Lake County had 78 highway fatalities – 10 involving motorcycles – from 2005 through 2009.

Twenty-one of those fatalities – or nearly 27 percent – involved alcohol-impaired driving, 19 involved speeding, 10 occurred at intersections, 21 involved rollovers and 59 were related to going off the roadway.

What can communities do? The CDC report suggests sobriety checkpoints and additional enforcement to counter the high rates of alcohol-impaired crashes.

Here in Lake County, the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Office did just that, using a “Five Alive” grant that ran from Oct. 1, 2010, through this past Sept. 30, and was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The grant's purpose, according to the CHP, was “to reduce the number of people killed and injured in alcohol- and motorcycle-involved collisions on local highways.”

The program used a combination of public education, 252 individual DUI saturation patrols, four motorcycle safety operations conducted during motorcycle rallies and eight DUI motorcycle enforcement task force operations. CHP said it partnered with other local law enforcement agencies to carry out the operations.

Based on the CHP's statistical tracking of the grant's program, Lt. Greg Baarts, commander of the Clear Lake Area office, said the preliminary figures show a decrease both in DUI-related fatalities and motorcycle-involved collisions.

In the next installment, agencies partner to reduce highway fatalities.

This Lake County News special series was produced as a project for the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships, a program of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

2010 Lake County Alcohol and Drug Risk Report

The work includes roadway trenching and underground piping installation, the agency reported.

This project is currently under way near Shady Acres extending up and through the former Pierce Airfield.

The project addresses the ability to provide capacity within the sewer collection system and reduce sewer spills.

Normal hours of construction are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and traffic control will be provided when necessary.

There may be disruptions caused to residents’ normal day-to-day activities during construction.

Every effort is being made to minimize impacts to all residents within the construction area.

The Lake County Sanitation District said it appreciates everyone’s patience as the important improvements are completed.

For more information, contact Lake County Special Districts at 707-263-0119.

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