Photo of Loyalton feral kitties. Photo courtesy Lola Garza

Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, DACVIMCat Checkups & Preventive Care
Here we are, smack dab in the midst of the feline phenomenon referred to as “kitten season.” Have you heard of it yet? If not, this is the time of year when every unspayed, queen (female cat) is likely to have a belly full of babies, or a litter of youngsters by her side. It is during kitten season when humane societies and animal shelters are teeming with youngsters of all shapes, sizes and colors. It’s a great time to adopt from a shelter!
Why do kittens arrive seasonally? 

Kitten season occurs seasonally because the queen has evolved into a “seasonally polyestrous” creature, meaning she comes into heat only during a particular time of year— during this time she is capable of having multiple pregnancies. In the Northern Hemisphere, the feline breeding season begins in very early spring and may persist throughout the summer months. Peak seasons are February through March and May through June. Throughout the rest of the year, the reproductive cycle goes into a state of dormancy referred to as “anestrus.”
Why are cats so prolific?
The domestic cat has long been recognized for her fertility. In fact, the feline was worshipped as a symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt. Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of fertility, was portrayed as a cat.

Unspayed kitties typically experience their first heat cycle (estrus) sometime between five and nine months of age. A queen who is in heat is exceptionally likely to become pregnant for the following reasons:

• A female cat will repeatedly come into heat, approximately every two weeks, throughout the entire breeding season.
• A queen who is in heat is quite the precocious creature. She will do whatever it takes to find herself a tomcat, and she will breed with multiple males.
• The domestic cat is an induced ovulator— her eggs lie in waiting until 30 to 50 hours following copulation, at which time they are released from her ovaries. This timing ensures that the eggs and sperm cells encounter one another.
• During the breeding season, queens quickly come back into heat after giving birth, even before their kittens are weaned.

All of these factors greatly enhance the likelihood of producing a litter, or two, or three during a breeding season. Allowed to breed naturally, a queen might easily produce in the range of 50 to 150 kittens over the course of ten years. Unfortunately, many of these kittens will end up in shelters or euthanized. 

How can you help control kitten season?
All of this information makes a strong case for spaying your female kitty before she ever comes into heat. If you’re thinking you’ll simply keep her inside, away from any tomcats, you may be in for a bit of a life disturbance. Cats in heat have been known to drive their humans crazy by vocalizing 24 hours a day, constantly being under foot, rolling around on the ground, and, for all practical purposes, shouting out to the world, “I am in heat!!” This will go on for weeks at a time. During kitten season, it’s not uncommon for sleep-deprived cat lovers to arrive at the veterinary hospital in a state of desperation pleading, “Please, spay her right now!”

Editor’s Note: In addition to spaying your cats, you can also consider adopting from shelters. You can save a life and make a new friend, forever!
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

What is Kitten Season?Posts by: 
Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, DACVIM
Cat Checkups & Preventive Care
Here we are, smack dab in the midst of the feline phenomenon referred to as “kitten season.” Have you heard of it yet? If not, this is the time of year when every unspayed, queen (female cat) is likely to have a belly full of babies, or a litter of youngsters by her side. It is during kitten season when humane societies and animal shelters are teeming with youngsters of all shapes, sizes and colors. It’s a great time to adopt from a shelter!


What is Kitten Season?Posts by: 
Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, DACVIM
Cat Checkups & Preventive Care
Here we are, smack dab in the midst of the feline phenomenon referred to as “kitten season.” Have you heard of it yet? If not, this is the time of year when every unspayed, queen (female cat) is likely to have a belly full of babies, or a litter of youngsters by her side. It is during kitten season when humane societies and animal shelters are teeming with youngsters of all shapes, sizes and colors. It’s a great time to adopt from a shelter!

Why do kittens arrive seasonally? 
Kitten season occurs seasonally because the queen has evolved into a “seasonally polyestrous” creature, meaning she comes into heat only during a particular time of year— during this time she is capable of having multiple pregnancies. In the Northern Hemisphere, the feline breeding season begins in very early spring and may persist throughout the summer months. Peak seasons are February through March and May through June. Throughout the rest of the year, the reproductive cycle goes into a state of dormancy referred to as “anestrus.”

Why are cats so prolific?
The domestic cat has long been recognized for her fertility. In fact, the feline was worshipped as a symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt. Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of fertility, was portrayed as a cat.

Unspayed kitties typically experience their first heat cycle (estrus) sometime between five and nine months of age. A queen who is in heat is exceptionally likely to become pregnant for the following reasons:

• A female cat will repeatedly come into heat, approximately every two weeks, throughout the entire breeding season.
• A queen who is in heat is quite the precocious creature. She will do whatever it takes to find herself a tomcat, and she will breed with multiple males.
• The domestic cat is an induced ovulator— her eggs lie in waiting until 30 to 50 hours following copulation, at which time they are released from her ovaries. This timing ensures that the eggs and sperm cells encounter one another.
• During the breeding season, queens quickly come back into heat after giving birth, even before their kittens are weaned.

All of these factors greatly enhance the likelihood of producing a litter, or two, or three during a breeding season. Allowed to breed naturally, a queen might easily produce in the range of 50 to 150 kittens over the course of ten years. Unfortunately, many of these kittens will end up in shelters or euthanized. 

How can you help control kitten season?
All of this information makes a strong case for spaying your female kitty before she ever comes into heat. If you’re thinking you’ll simply keep her inside, away from any tomcats, you may be in for a bit of a life disturbance. Cats in heat have been known to drive their humans crazy by vocalizing 24 hours a day, constantly being under foot, rolling around on the ground, and, for all practical purposes, shouting out to the world, “I am in heat!!” This will go on for weeks at a time. During kitten season, it’s not uncommon for sleep-deprived cat lovers to arrive at the veterinary hospital in a state of desperation pleading, “Please, spay her right now!”

Editor’s Note: In addition to spaying your cats, you can also consider adopting from shelters. You can save a life and make a new friend, forever!
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Reviewed by: 
Dr. Bill Saxon, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC

What is Kitten Season?Posts by: 
Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, DACVIM
Cat Checkups & Preventive Care
Here we are, smack dab in the midst of the feline phenomenon referred to as “kitten season.” Have you heard of it yet? If not, this is the time of year when every unspayed, queen (female cat) is likely to have a belly full of babies, or a litter of youngsters by her side. It is during kitten season when humane societies and animal shelters are teeming with youngsters of all shapes, sizes and colors. It’s a great time to adopt from a shelter!

Why do kittens arrive seasonally? 
Kitten season occurs seasonally because the queen has evolved into a “seasonally polyestrous” creature, meaning she comes into heat only during a particular time of year— during this time she is capable of having multiple pregnancies. In the Northern Hemisphere, the feline breeding season begins in very early spring and may persist throughout the summer months. Peak seasons are February through March and May through June. Throughout the rest of the year, the reproductive cycle goes into a state of dormancy referred to as “anestrus.”

Why are cats so prolific?
The domestic cat has long been recognized for her fertility. In fact, the feline was worshipped as a symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt. Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of fertility, was portrayed as a cat.

Unspayed kitties typically experience their first heat cycle (estrus) sometime between five and nine months of age. A queen who is in heat is exceptionally likely to become pregnant for the following reasons:

• A female cat will repeatedly come into heat, approximately every two weeks, throughout the entire breeding season.
• A queen who is in heat is quite the precocious creature. She will do whatever it takes to find herself a tomcat, and she will breed with multiple males.
• The domestic cat is an induced ovulator— her eggs lie in waiting until 30 to 50 hours following copulation, at which time they are released from her ovaries. This timing ensures that the eggs and sperm cells encounter one another.
• During the breeding season, queens quickly come back into heat after giving birth, even before their kittens are weaned.

All of these factors greatly enhance the likelihood of producing a litter, or two, or three during a breeding season. Allowed to breed naturally, a queen might easily produce in the range of 50 to 150 kittens over the course of ten years. Unfortunately, many of these kittens will end up in shelters or euthanized. 

How can you help control kitten season?
All of this information makes a strong case for spaying your female kitty before she ever comes into heat. If you’re thinking you’ll simply keep her inside, away from any tomcats, you may be in for a bit of a life disturbance. Cats in heat have been known to drive their humans crazy by vocalizing 24 hours a day, constantly being under foot, rolling around on the ground, and, for all practical purposes, shouting out to the world, “I am in heat!!” This will go on for weeks at a time. During kitten season, it’s not uncommon for sleep-deprived cat lovers to arrive at the veterinary hospital in a state of desperation pleading, “Please, spay her right now!”

Editor’s Note: In addition to spaying your cats, you can also consider adopting from shelters. You can save a life and make a new friend, forever!
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Reviewed by: 
Dr. Bill Saxon, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC

What is Kitten Season?Posts by: 
Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, DACVIM
Cat Checkups & Preventive Care
Here we are, smack dab in the midst of the feline phenomenon referred to as “kitten season.” Have you heard of it yet? If not, this is the time of year when every unspayed, queen (female cat) is likely to have a belly full of babies, or a litter of youngsters by her side. It is during kitten season when humane societies and animal shelters are teeming with youngsters of all shapes, sizes and colors. It’s a great time to adopt from a shelter!

Why do kittens arrive seasonally? 
Kitten season occurs seasonally because the queen has evolved into a “seasonally polyestrous” creature, meaning she comes into heat only during a particular time of year— during this time she is capable of having multiple pregnancies. In the Northern Hemisphere, the feline breeding season begins in very early spring and may persist throughout the summer months. Peak seasons are February through March and May through June. Throughout the rest of the year, the reproductive cycle goes into a state of dormancy referred to as “anestrus.”

Why are cats so prolific?
The domestic cat has long been recognized for her fertility. In fact, the feline was worshipped as a symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt. Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of fertility, was portrayed as a cat.

Unspayed kitties typically experience their first heat cycle (estrus) sometime between five and nine months of age. A queen who is in heat is exceptionally likely to become pregnant for the following reasons:

• A female cat will repeatedly come into heat, approximately every two weeks, throughout the entire breeding season.
• A queen who is in heat is quite the precocious creature. She will do whatever it takes to find herself a tomcat, and she will breed with multiple males.
• The domestic cat is an induced ovulator— her eggs lie in waiting until 30 to 50 hours following copulation, at which time they are released from her ovaries. This timing ensures that the eggs and sperm cells encounter one another.
• During the breeding season, queens quickly come back into heat after giving birth, even before their kittens are weaned.

All of these factors greatly enhance the likelihood of producing a litter, or two, or three during a breeding season. Allowed to breed naturally, a queen might easily produce in the range of 50 to 150 kittens over the course of ten years. Unfortunately, many of these kittens will end up in shelters or euthanized. 

How can you help control kitten season?
All of this information makes a strong case for spaying your female kitty before she ever comes into heat. If you’re thinking you’ll simply keep her inside, away from any tomcats, you may be in for a bit of a life disturbance. Cats in heat have been known to drive their humans crazy by vocalizing 24 hours a day, constantly being under foot, rolling around on the ground, and, for all practical purposes, shouting out to the world, “I am in heat!!” This will go on for weeks at a time. During kitten season, it’s not uncommon for sleep-deprived cat lovers to arrive at the veterinary hospital in a state of desperation pleading, “Please, spay her right now!”

Editor’s Note: In addition to spaying your cats, you can also consider adopting from shelters. You can save a life and make a new friend, forever!
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Reviewed by: 
Dr. Bill Saxon, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC

​
by Melinda Myers
Summer means hot and often dry weather for many gardeners. Keep your garden looking its best with less water and maintenance throughout the summer.
Spread a layer of organic mulch like leaves, evergreen needles or woodchips on the soil surrounding plants. This helps keep plant roots cool, conserves moisture, suppresses weeds and improves the soil as it decomposes. Use a three- to four-inch layer of coarser material like wood chips and a thinner, one-inch layer of finer materials like leaves. Pull the mulch away from the trunk of the tree, stems of shrubs, and base of flowers and vegetables. 
 
Water thoroughly to encourage deep, drought tolerant roots. Light, frequent watering promotes shallow roots, making plants more susceptible to drought and other environmental stresses.
 
Check new plantings every day or two and water often enough to keep the root area and surrounding soil slightly moist. Gradually extend the time between watering. Most plants thrive with an inch of water each week. Let soil moisture not the calendar be your guide. Adjust your watering practices based on temperature, soil type and rainfall. 
 
Water gardens early in the day to reduce water lost to evaporation and the risk of disease. Consider using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to apply water directly to the soil where it is needed. You will conserve moisture and help reduce the risk of spreading disease with overhead watering.
 
Check container gardens daily. Water thoroughly, until excess water exits through the drainage hole, whenever the top few inches of potting mix are dry.  Succulents like to go a bit drier while moisture-loving plants prefer evenly moist soil.
 
Continue weeding throughout the summer. These unwanted plants compete for water and nutrients. Many are hosts for insects and disease, attracting them to the landscape and putting your garden plants at greater risk.
 
Remove faded flowers (deadhead) to improve the plant’s appearance, encourage more flowers or prevent reseeding. Self-cleaning plants like impatiens, cuphea and calibrachoa need no deadheading to keep blooming. Columbine, Amsonia, and bee balm are a few perennials that produce lots of seedlings. Deadhead these and other plants that produce more seedlings than you desire. Stop deadheading perennials in late summer or early fall to allow seed heads to form. The seed heads add winter interest and many attract songbirds to the garden.
 
Use twigs, decorative stakes, or other supports to keep tall, floppy plants standing tall in the garden. Take time to mask functional supports so staked plants still look their best. Consider decorative stakes or convert found items into garden art that adds interest while keeping your plants upright.
 
Don’t fret when some of your annuals stop blooming during the hotter days of summer. Lobelia, French marigolds, and sweet alyssum are a few annuals that may stop flowering (heat stall) during hot weather. Continue to water and trim back as needed. Then wait for cooler temperatures and flowers to return. 
 
Add a few hanging baskets or containers for extra color and pizzazz. Place containers and hanging baskets in lackluster garden areas like the front entrance, next to the patio or anywhere a bit of fresh color is needed.
Employ a few or all of these strategies to keep your garden looking its best. You will be amazed at the big impact such small efforts can provide.
 
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is  www.MelindaMyers.com.
 

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONDivisions of Boating and Waterways, Historic Preservation and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation
Division of Boating and Waterways Encourages Boaters to Avoid Alcohol this Fourth of July Holiday Weekend
Boating Under the Influence Checkpoints will be carried out across many California waterways
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California State Parks, its Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) and more than 40 law enforcement entities across California will be participating in a nationwide boating under the influence effort (BUI) for the Fourth of July holiday. Dubbed “Operation Dry Water”, law enforcement entities will increase patrols and/or carry out BUI checkpoints on this holiday known for being one of the deadliest holidays for recreational boating accidents.
For the 12th straight year, the goal of the Operation Dry Water campaign is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities, and educate water enthusiasts about the deadly consequences of BUI. California and U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating accident statistics repeatedly show alcohol as a contributing factor, accounting for more than 20% of California’s boating fatalities over the past five years, where testing was conducted. Nationally, alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal recreational boating accidents according to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrator.
“This coming holiday weekend, we recommend neither boat operators nor passengers drink alcoholic beverages while boating,” said DBW’s Acting Deputy Director Ramona Fernandez. “Everyone who drinks alcohol on board—not just the operator—is at risk. Intoxicated passengers can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller, or cause a small vessel to capsize. Have fun, but leave the alcohol at home.”
It is against the law in California to operate a boat or water ski with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. Officers may also arrest boaters with a BAC less than 0.08 percent if conditions are deemed unsafe. BUI convictions can result in up to six months in jail and/or fines of up to $1,000. Two convictions within seven years could add a jail term of up to one year. Boaters caught operating under the influence may also have their voyage terminated and their vessel impounded.
This year’s Operation Dry Water California participants include:

California State Parks and Recreation Areas

• Ocotillo Wells District (Imperial and San Diego)
• Lake Oroville (Butte County)
• Millerton Lake (Fresno County)
• Silverwood Lake (San Bernardino County)
• Folsom Lake (Sacramento County)

City Police Departments

• South Lake Tahoe

County Sheriff Departments

• Contra Costa

• Del Norte
• El Dorado
• Fresno
• Glenn
• Humboldt
• Imperial
• Kings
• Lake
• Los Angeles
• Mono
• Napa
• Plumas
• San Bernardino
• San Joaquin
• Shasta
• Solano
• Sonoma
• Tehama
• Tulare
• Yolo

Harbor Patrols

• Santa Barbara

U.S. Coast Guard Stations/ Sectors

• Barracuda
• Blackfin
• Bodega Bay

•  Channel Islands
• Humboldt Bay
• Lake Tahoe
• Los Angeles/Long Beach Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST)
• Los Angeles-Long Beach
• Los Angeles-Long Beach (Sector)
• Morro Bay
• Noyo River
• Petrel
• Rio Vista
• Vallejo

​​​​​​​A map of participating agencies with their contact information can be found at: nasbla.org/operationdrywater/enforcement/participating-agencies.

Outdoor enthusiasts are also reminded to recreate responsibly this summer by wearing life jackets and actively supervising children when recreating near or in California’s waterways. Life jackets can be borrowed for free at one of over 100 local life jacket loaner stations throughout the state. California specific boating laws and safety tips can be found online at BoatCalifornia.com. For COVID-19 guidelines within the State Park System, please visit parks.ca.gov/COVID19.

 
REDDING – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2) wishes travelers a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. Motorists are reminded that the 2021 construction and maintenance season is in full swing and are advised to check roadway conditions and allot extra time for delays surrounding travel on this 4th of July weekend.
 
Historically, peak travel dates and times surrounding this holiday weekend are:
 
·      Thursday, July 1st between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
·      Friday, July 2nd between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
·      Saturday, July 3rd between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
·      Monday, July 5th between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
 
While many crews will not be working over the weekend, road work will be in effect in many areas through Friday, July 2nd and again on Tuesday, July 6th. In addition, Caltrans District 2 alerts the public to the following long-term work zones, rest area closures, and areas of traffic congestion:
 
·      STATE ROUTE 36, AUGUST COMPLEX SLIDE – 24/7 traffic control is currently in effect for slide work on State Route 36 in Trinity County, approximately 6 miles west of the junction with State Route 3. Motorists should plan for up to 30-minute delays during daytime hours through July 2nd at 7 p.m. While no work is planned for Saturday – Monday (July 3rd – July 5th), motorists will encounter flagging operations 24/7 with minimal delays. Longer delays (up to 30-minutes) are planned to begin again on Tuesday, July 6th at 7 a.m. 
 
·      STATE ROUTE 299, BIEBER TO ADIN PAVEMENT PROJECT – 24/7 traffic control will be lifted on the project, near Adin on State Route 299 in Lassen County on Saturday – Monday (July 3rd – 5th). Motorists should plan for 20 – 30 minute delays on Friday, June 2nd until 3 p.m. 24/7 traffic control is planned to begin again on the project on Tuesday, July 6th.
 
·      STATE ROUTE 273, GIRVAN ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT – Northbound State Route 273 in South Redding is reduced to one lane with k-rail barrier between Canyon Road and Clear Creek Road for City of Redding railroad crossing improvement project. Motorists may experience delays during peak traffic periods.
 
·      INTERSTATE 5, REDDING TO ANDERSON SIX LANE PROJECT – While construction work is not planned on the project over the holiday weekend, a 55 MPH speed limit reduction remains in effect on the project (northbound and southbound) in the Anderson area. Please slow down and drive carefully in the area.
 
·      STATE ROUTE 299, FRANCIS B. MATTHEWS SAFETY ROADSIDE REST AREA – The Francis B. Matthews Rest Area on State Route 299, near Salyer in Trinity County, will be closed over the holiday weekend. The rest area is currently anticipated to reopen by mid-September. Motorists travelling in the area should plan their stops accordingly.
 
·      NORTHBOUND INTERSTATE 5, O’BRIEN SAFETY ROADSIDE REST AREA – The O’Brien Rest Area on northbound Interstate 5, north of Redding, will be closed over the holiday weekend. The rest area is currently anticipated to reopen by mid-summer. Motorists travelling in the area should plan their stops accordingly.
 
·      NORTHBOUND INTERSTATE 5, WEED SAFETY ROADSIDE REST AREA– The Weed Safety Roadside Rest Area on northbound Interstate 5, north of Weed in Siskiyou County, is planned to be closed beginning Tuesday, July 6th. Motorists travelling in the area should plan their stops accordingly.
 
·      STATE ROUTE 89 NEAR McARTHUR – BURNEY FALLS MEMORIAL STATE PARK – Impacted traffic flows have occurred on recent holiday weekends on State Route 89 near McArthur – Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County. Motorists are asked to utilize alternative routes for through traffic in the area and plan for delays if they are intending to visit the park.
 
Up to date roadway conditions are available 24/7 through QuickMap. Motorists are also advised to tune to 1610 AM (97.9 FM in Modoc County and 1580 AM in Butte County for State Routes 70 & 191) when flashing lights are operational on Highway Advisory Radio signs and to immediately call 9-1-1 if they find themselves in an emergency situation.
 
Traveler resources include:
 
·      QuickMap: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ (also available by free app. for smartphones)
·      One-Stop-Shop: http://oss.weathershare.org (mobile version available at: http://oss.weathershare.org/m)
·      District 2 Project Information: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-2/d2-projects
·      District 2 Facebook and Twitter pages with updated project and incident information

Hard Copy of Travel Advisory

 (Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) –  While California and Nevada have updated their statewide masking guidance to lift mask requirements for vaccinated individuals, certain higher risk settings identified by the CDC, such as healthcare settings, still require face coverings for everyone, regardless of vaccination status. In accordance with CDC and State guidance, Tahoe Forest Health System will continue to require that all personnel, patients, visitors and residents, whether vaccinated or not, wear a face covering in all of its premises.
Continued use of face coverings, such as in healthcare settings, helps prevent COVID-19 transmission among people with higher risk of infection (those who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated), those with prolonged exposures, and individuals whose vaccination status is unknown.
For more information on current masking guidance, visit:

• CDC:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/covid19 
• Nevada Department of Health and Human Services: https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/

#####
About Tahoe Forest Health System
Tahoe Forest Health System, which includes Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA, and Incline Village Community Hospital in Incline Village, NV, offers 24-hour emergency care, urgent care, primary and specialty health care clinics including Tahoe Forest Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Commission on Cancer (COC) accredited cancer center, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, and the Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care. With a strong focus on high quality patient care, community collaboration, clinical excellence and innovation, Tahoe Forest Health System is a UC Davis Rural Center of Excellence. For a complete list of physician specialties and services, visit www.tfhd.com.
 

SACRAMENTO – Today, members of the Senate Republican Caucus delivered a letter to State Budget Leaders requesting a ‘Gas Tax Holiday’ which would include a full suspension on state gas tax collection for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year, backfilled by the State’s general fund. This would provide Californians with much needed financial relief while ensuring that transportation infrastructure projects are not impacted.

Below are excerpts from the letter. Click here to read the full letter.

“Californians are currently enduring the highest gas prices in the nation, averaging $4.22 for a regular gallon of gasoline, over $1.15 above the national average, according to AARP. While this legislature is currently deliberating whether to expand the Golden State Stimulus payments to more Californians, it is important to understand that any action intended to provide financial relief to Californians is undermined by the accompanying rise in gasoline excise taxes. The adverse impacts of high gas prices and taxes that we know disproportionately impacts our low to middle-income residents not only affects drivers, it increases the cost of living, including business costs and food prices, hampering our relief efforts and economic recovery.

“On July 1, California’s excise tax on a gallon of gasoline will rise to 51.1 cents. At a time when the state budget is enjoying historic surpluses, Californians’ deserve a tax break, not higher taxes. The average family of four pays as much as $800 in gas taxes a year and this increase is going to cost California drivers an additional $83 million in the next year alone. Gas costs account for 14% of expenditures in the agricultural sector, and raising the gas tax would inherently raise the price of food, further resulting in not just a higher tax at the pump, but also increased costs at the checkout line.

“A gas tax holiday, more specifically, a full moratorium on California’s gasoline excise tax collection, backfilled with general fund dollars for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year, would provide much needed relief for Californians….”

Click here to read the full letter signed by Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (Santa Clarita) and Senators Patricia Bates (Laguna Niguel), Andreas Borgeas (Fresno), Brian Dahle (Bieber), Shannon Grove (Bakersfield), Brian Jones (Santee), Melissa Melendez (Lake Elsinore), Jim Nielsen (Tehama), and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (Yucaipa).  
###
Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. You can learn more about Scott by visiting his website.

 
By Scott Rodd, Capitol Public Radio 
 
On Gavin Newsom’s first full day in office, Jan. 8, 2019, the newly elected governor stood before the cameras, …and declared war on wildfires.

“Everybody has had enough,” the governor said, announcing he’d signed a sweeping executive order overhauling the state’s approach to wildfire prevention. Climate change was sparking fires more frequent, ferocious, and far-reaching than ever before, Newsom said, and confronting them would have to become a year-round effort. …
 
But two-and-a-half years later, as California approaches what could be the worst wildfire season on record, it does so with little evidence of the year-round attention Newsom promised.
 
An investigation from CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom found the governor has misrepresented his accomplishments and even disinvested in wildfire prevention. The investigation found Newsom overstated, by an astounding 690%, the number of acres treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns in the very forestry projects he said needed to be prioritized to protect the state’s most vulnerable communities. Newsom has claimed that 35 “priority projects” carried out as a result of his executive order resulted in fire prevention work on 90,000 acres. But the state’s own data show the actual number is 11,399.
 
Overall, California’s response has faltered under Newsom. …

​APPROVAL of assignment of Megan Meschery, as Principal/Site Administrator for Loyalton High School was pulled from the agenda during the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District’s regular meeting, held Tuesday, June 22. Board Vice President Alan Wright stated he wanted the full board present before approval, as both President Mike Moore and Board member Christina Potter were absent. SPTA President and teacher Laurie Petterson questioned why the Board could approve the budget but not the Principal for Loyalton High School. Board member Nicole Stannard said during closed session the board decided the appointing was such a big deal that they wanted to have all five members present. She stated they were going to schedule a special meeting so all members could be present and make this serious decision. Petterson felt the budget was equally as big a deal and they were able to pass it without all members. Stannard said the Board was able to look at the budget ahead of time, where some members didn’t know about the appointment. Sierra Schools Foundation President, Jenna Holland questioned securing the vote, stating it seemed highly worrisome and unprofessional. 


THE 2021-2022 Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District Budget was approved unanimously on Tuesday, June 22nd. Business Manager, Nona Greisert stated they have a positive cash flow for fiscal year 2021-2022 with a projected ending cash balance of $3,659,167 with a one time net increase of $634,787 due to COVID funding. The reserve requirement is met for all three years and have a positive certification.  


REINSTATING the District-Wide Intervention Teacher position on an ongoing basis was discussed during the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District meeting held Tuesday, June 22nd in Downieville. This position oversees district wide intervention program that uses effective, scientifically based research curriculum and instructional strategies to fit the needs of struggling students at Downieville, Loyalton Elementary and Loyalton High School. After many teachers spoke in favor and several letters were received from parents the Board approved the position unanimously with Board President Mike Moore and Board member Christina Potter absent.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and long term care facilities across the country, announced the release of a recent survey of nursing home and assisted living providers across the U.S. The results from the survey showcase the urgent need to invest in the long term care workforce, specifically to help recruit and retain staff.


Key findings include:

• Ninety-four percent of nursing home providers said they have had a shortage of staff members in the last month. In assisted living communities, 81 percent said they had similar staffing shortages.
• More than half of nursing home and assisted living providers lost key members of their staff last year during the pandemic due to workers quitting, including among certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or direct caregivers and dietary staff.
• Close to 75 percent of nursing homes and nearly 60 percent of assisted living communities said their overall workforce situation has gotten worse since 2020.
• Eighty-one percent of nursing home providers and 75 percent of assisted living communities stated that higher reimbursement to offer better staff pay and benefits would help improve the facility’s ability to recruit and retain staff members.

“The survey results clearly indicate that the long term care workforce is facing serious challenges, and our country must make significant investments to help address these shortfalls,” stated Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “Lawmakers across the country must prioritize long term care to ensure the profession has the necessary resources to maintain a strong workforce. This begins with addressing chronic underfunding of Medicaid for nursing homes, which currently only covers 70 to 80 percent of the cost of care. We have laid out proposals in our Care For Our Seniors Act that would enable our providers to address staffing shortages, but without help from Congress and state legislators, this will not be possible.”

“We look forward to working with federal and state governments to ensure every facility has the ability to recruit and retain the necessary staff to ensure our residents receive the level of care they need and deserve. Caregivers are the backbone of nursing homes and assisted living communities, and we need to make sure they are being adequately supported so they can provide the highest quality care to our elderly population,” concluded Parkinson.

A one-page executive summary of the results can be found HERE.

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SACRAMENTO — Caltrans awarded $34 million in state and federal funds to cities, counties, tribes and transit agencies throughout California today to improve the state’s transportation network. The grant money—including $25 million funded by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017—will be used to plan sustainable transportation projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the state highway system, enhance access to safe walkways and bikeways, and increase natural disaster preparedness.
                                                                                                                        
“Investing in transportation planning is essential to our goal of providing a safe, sustainable system that advances equity and livability throughout the state,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “These grants will help our communities create more connected routes for all residents, regardless of whether they travel by car, bike, foot or mass transit.” 
 
In total, Caltrans allocated:
 

• $17.4 million – including $12.38 million from SB 1 – in Sustainable Communities Competitive and Technical Grants to 50 local, regional, tribal and transit agencies for climate change adaptation, complete streets, transportation and land use planning, and natural disaster preparedness. This includes more than $4 million to fund planning for 13 projects that improve safety and access for people who walk and bike.

 

• $12.5 million in Sustainable Communities Formula Grants, completely funded by SB 1, to metropolitan planning organizations to further regional transportation plans and sustainable communities strategies.

 

• $4 million in federally funded Strategic Partnership Grants to nine projects that will plan for next-generation freeways, improve transit options between communities, research alternative funding for road repairs, and advance the timely and efficient movement of goods throughout the state.

 
Caltrans awards transportation planning grants each year through a competitive process to encourage local and regional projects. Applications are evaluated on how they further state transportation goals by identifying and addressing statewide, interregional or regional transportation deficiencies on the highway system.
 
View the FY 2021-22 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program Award List for all of the planning grant project awardees.
 
 
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All 10 properties in Nevada County participating in state's full debris removal program cleared of wildfire debris
SACRAMENTO – The remains of 2020 wildfire survivors’ homes and property -- burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil -- have now been cleared of burned metal, concrete ash and contaminated soil from all 10 properties in Nevada County enrolled in California’s statewide Consolidated Debris Removal Program.
In Solano County, state crews have cleared debris from 114, or 98.3 percent, of the 116 properties participating in the full debris removal program.  In Stanislaus County, six, or 85.7 percent, of the seven properties participating in the full debris removal program have been cleared.  Earlier, crews completed the removal of eligible debris from all six Yuba County properties in participating in the full program; all four properties in Plumas County participating in the full program; and the onlyparticipating property in Yolo County.
In 2020, over 8,000 climate-induced wildfires burned 4.2 million acres of California, destroying more than 5,700 homes. Property owners incur no direct costs for participation in the state-managed clean up and recovery program, administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) in collaboration with 25 participating counties.
Major Clearing Work: 95.9 Percent Complete
 
Wildfire survivors had the option to either use their own contractor or enroll in the state-managed program. Of the 5,991 properties statewide with damage from the 2020 fires, 3,774 signed up to have the remains of their homes, other structures and hazardous trees cleared by the state.
 
As of June 23, 2021, state-managed crews have cleared burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from 3,620, or 95.9 percent, of the properties throughout the state participating in the full debris removal program.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

By Harold Pease, Ph,D.


The Declaration of Independence ends with one of the most passionate appeals ever put to words and memorized by yesterday’s grade school child.  “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”  
This document would bring on war against the then greatest power on earth, and no European strategist gave the Patriots a ghost of a chance of winning—yet they stood.  Signers would be seen as traitors to the mother country and could expect the harshest treatment when caught.  They could count on no one but God and themselves.  And they recognized thereafter having received His aid.
Still, a goodly number did suffer loss of life and property as a result.  Most paid a remarkably high price for taking their stand.  In a wrathful spirit of revenge, the enemy singled them out for harsh vengeance.  Five were captured and imprisoned and two others barely escaped captivity.  Richard Stockton, one of those captured after his whereabouts was betrayed by a loyalist informer, was “dragged from bed in the middle of the night, severely beaten and thrown into prison” where he underwent continual abuse and also suffered malnourishment.  By the time the Congress arranged for his exchange, he was broken physically and never recovered.  He had also lost almost all his property.
Unable to capture Abraham Clark, another signatory, the British took their wrath out on his two sons, who were imprisoned on the notorious prison ship Jersey.  “Word was sent to Clark that his boys would be freed if he would disown the revolutionary cause and praise the British Crown.  At his refusal, his sons were singled out for cruel treatment.  One was placed in a tiny cell and given no food.  Fellow prisoners kept him alive by laboriously pushing tiny bits of food through a keyhole.  Both sons somehow survived their ordeal.”  
The British had a particular zeal for destroying the homes and property of the signers.  Those suffering this fate included Benjamin Harrison, George Clymer, Dr. John Witherspoon, Philip Livingston, William Hooper, and William Floyd.  The sacrifices of John Hart and Francis Lewis are particularly noteworthy.  “While his wife lay gravely ill, Redcoats destroyed Hart’s growing crops and ripped his many grist mills to pieces.  Bent on taking him, they chased him for several days.  They almost nabbed him in a wooded area, but he hid in a cave.  When he returned home with his health broken, he found his wife dead and their 13 children scattered.”  
The story of Francis Lewis was equally tragic.  “When the British plundered and burned his home at Whitestone on Long Island, they took his wife prisoner.  She was thrown into a foul barracks and treated cruelly.  For several months she had to sleep on the floor and was given no change of clothing.  George Washington was eventually able to arrange for her exchange for two wives of British officers the Continental Arm was holding prisoner.  Her health was so undermined that she died two years later.”  
Thomas Nelson Jr., another signatory, made one of the most unusual sacrifices of the war.  At Yorktown the British had selected his residence as headquarters.  Washington, reluctant to destroy his compatriots beautiful home, was directed to do so by Nelson himself.
John Quincy Adams, a son of one of the 55 patriots signing the Declaration of Independence and later a president of the United States, said it best.  “Posterity—You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom.  I hope you will make good use of it.”  Let us never forget that liberty is not free.  It was purchased and maintained by the blood of those before us.  What price have you paid for yours?
Today many believe that the biggest enemy to our liberty is from within.  Certainly we have let the Constitution dwindle in its ability to protect us from federal overreach or violent destructive mobs.  If the cause of the American Revolution was excessive government, as historians say, what can we say today when the rules are multiplied many times?  
For most of us it is hard to argue that we are more free than they under British tyranny when our government tells us that women athletes must compete with biological men or with whom we must share a bathroom or shower; that only essential businesses can be open; that our schools must be closed, some for most of a year; that people must remain locked down (house arrest) in their own homes for months; that churches, theaters, and sports spectators cannot assemble without government permission; that our children must be taught racism, now termed critical race theory,—more especially if they are white; that masks, and perhaps vaccines too, are required for public gatherings; that our borders must be open to everyone in the world, and that you must share the expenses of everyone, once here, who illegally forced their way across our borders.  “Wokeism” and a politicized pandemic have revived tyranny.
Let this be a warning to those who would take even more freedom from us.  We too, as did early patriots, are standing “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,” mutually pledging “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” 

 
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Consitution and a syndicated columnist. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years. Newspapers have permission to publish this column. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.
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San Diego -- Leading California gubernatorial candidate Kevin Faulconer's campaign issued the following statement regarding the Department of Finance's initial report indicating the election to recall Governor Gavin Newsom will cost California's counties a total of $215 million.

"This recall will cost a fraction of the $30 billion in EDD fraud Gavin Newsom has presided over. He sent tens of billions of dollars to criminals, including violent felons. Given Newsom’s track record, recalling him will save California billions," said Gus Portela, Press Secretary for Kevin Faulconer for Governor.

​Today CAL FIRE Engine 2365 from our Truckee Station headed up to Loyalton to participate in the Sierra Brooks Community FireWise Outreach event. 

Sierra County Supervisor Sharon Dryden along with local volunteers distributed FireWise packages with information about emergency preparedness, defensible space, and Sierra County's Everbrite emergency notification system to over 200 residences.

California officially reopened this week to much media and gubernatorial fanfare.
 But something major was missing: the many job creators and residents who were forced to flee the state over the past 15 months that were marked by lockdowns, school closures, and onerous restrictions that frequently left businesses reeling and shelling out tens of thousands of dollars to comply.
 Among them were innovators like Elon Musk, who relocated to Texas; David Blumberg, founder of Blumberg Capital, who moved to Florida; conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who took his family to Florida and his media business, The Daily Wire, to Nashville; Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which is now in Texas; and software company Palantir, which now calls Colorado home. Watch our video on Facebook. Click here.  

While many state economies are back, or close, to normal, California’s economy still lags far behind. Its unemployment rate of 8.3% is better than only that of Hawaii, and a far cry from the states with the lowest unemployment rate of 2.8%.
 Recently, The Center Square reported just how much the state is losing from the out migration, something documented in detail in CPC’s California Book of Exoduses. Between 2017 and 2018, California lost 165,355 net tax filers and dependents, more than any other state. Combined, the income of those former residents totals $8.8 billion that will now be earned elsewhere. 

SACRAMENTO, June 16, 2021 -- Mosquito experts say that as the state reopens and Californians make summer travel plans, it's important to pack - and use - insect repellent to protect themselves from mosquito bites and the diseases they can spread. The reminder about wearing insect repellent is part of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which is celebrated June 20-26 throughout the country.
 
Wearing insect repellent is an important way to prevent the spread of West Nile virus, the most widespread and serious mosquito-borne disease in California. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), West Nile virus, which is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, was first detected in the eastern U.S. in 1999 and has since expanded across the country. There is no human vaccine for West Nile virus, which can cause debilitating cases of meningitis, encephalitis, and even death.
 
“Mosquito-transmitted diseases pose a real public health threat,” said Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward). “That’s why I’ve been advocating for increased state funding to ensure mosquito and public health experts have the tools and resources they need to protect Californians from debilitating and deadly diseases. I also encourage all Californians to take personal precautions to make sure they are protected.”
 
It is also important for Californians to protect against invasive Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are not native to California, but they are now found in over 300 cities throughout the state. They are capable of transmitting the viruses that cause Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Fortunately, these viruses are not currently present in California, but travelers to other countries who become infected could introduce the virus locally upon their return. Mosquito experts warn that as global travel increases, there is an increased risk for local transmission of these diseases.
 
“For many Californians, summertime means family vacations and time spent outside,” said Truc Dever, president of theMosquito and Vector Control Association of California. “It’s also the height of mosquito season, so it’s important to apply insect repellent after putting on sunscreen when you are headed outside, as well as make sure there is no standing water around your home and property where mosquitoes can lay eggs.”
 
Invasive Aedes mosquitoes often live in people’s front yards, backyards, and patios—areas where mosquito and vector control agencies can’t easily inspect. Aedes mosquitoes are particularly difficult to control because they prefer to lay their eggs in small water-filled containers like jars, saucers, old tires, and yard drains. Unlike most mosquitoes, the eggs can survive for over a year even if completely dry, and hatch when the container refills with water. Due to the difficult nature of controlling invasive Aedes, mosquito experts are evaluating innovative methods, such as Sterile Insect Techniques, to protect the public from their bites and possible disease transmission. 
 
To help prevent mosquito bites:

• Apply insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients, including DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535, to clothes and exposed skin according to label instructions. Repellents keep mosquitoes from biting. It is important to follow EPA and CDC guidelines for the safe use of repellents on children.
  
  
• Install screens on windows and doors and keep them in good repair to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
  
  
• Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including in flowerpots, old tires, buckets, pet dishes, and trash cans. Mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in about a week using very small amounts of standing water.
  
  
• Repair leaking faucets and broken sprinklers that can contribute to stagnant water around your home.
  
  
• Maintain swimming pools and jacuzzies with proper chemicals to prevent growth of algae and mosquitoes from breeding.
  
  
• Report neglected swimming pools to your local mosquito and vector control agency (agency information can be found at www.mvcac.org)

For more information, check out these videos: Tip, Toss & Take Action and Everyone Can Help Fight the Bite! For more information, please visit the CDPH Mosquitoes and Mosquito-borne Diseases webpage.
About MVCAC
The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) is the statewide voice for mosquito and vector control professionals. The association provides public health information, expertise, mosquito and vector-borne disease surveillance, innovative research, professional training, effective legislative and regulatory advocacy on behalf of California public agencies.
 

Pinkston News Service

June 15, 2021

(Washington, D.C.)-June marks Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, and for the millions of people who suffer from migraine or other types of serious headaches, a new drug-free, noninvasive tool is in store that can help alleviate pain. Thanks to researchers at Harvard, narrow band green light technology offers a ray of hope.    

Approximately 40 million Americans experience migraines, which can inflict debilitating pain. Employers annually lose in excess of $13 billion due to missed workdays caused by migraine headaches. Pandemic-induced stress and anxiety seem to have exacerbated the problem.  

Of the variety of treatment options available for migraine patients, most are ineffective, expensive, invasive or all of the above. However, thanks to Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Rami Burstein, a world leader in the science of migraine and headache pain, his research found that a narrow band of green light can actually reduce headache symptoms in migraine patients. This unique light produces smaller electrical signals in the brain than ordinary light, generating a calmer response and more positive emotions.

Research from the University of Arizona Health Sciences has further validated Dr. Burstein’s work.

A 2020 University of Arizona study found that daily exposure to narrow band green light reduced the frequency, intensity and severity of headaches in migraine patients by more than 60%, and also improved the ability of patients to work, exercise and complete household tasks. Participants in the study spent 1-2 hours a day for ten weeks in a room lit only by a white light, then spent ten weeks doing the same using a narrow wavelength green light. During the weeks of green light exposure, patients reported significantly reduced pain levels and headache duration and great improvements in their ability to sleep, work and exercise.

Fortunately for headache patients, devices using this green light technology are already available on the commercial market, including a relatively inexpensive green light lamp developed and sold by a company called Allay.

Migraine patients are always eager to try anything that can help them deal with this inherited neurological disorder, which the World Health Organization has named as one of the 10 most disabling illnesses. For those patients, green light technology could be a game changer in the battle against this condition. 

 
SACRAMENTO – Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) commented on the passage of the largest state budget in California’s history.
 
 “This is a massive budget that grows the size of government, without much accountability on how it is spent or the results,” said Senator Brian Dahle. “Californians passed a $7 billion water bond in 2014, and in a year when we need it most, we still haven’t seen one gallon of water. Every dollar spent needs to go to real projects that help Californians, not to consultants or government bureaucrats.”
 
The budget now goes to the Governor for his signature or veto. The Legislature is expected to debate and pass many trailer bills over the next few weeks that will implement the policies of the budget-in-chief.
Video message here.
 
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Videos on other comments can be found here.
 
Senator Brian Dahle represents California's 1st Senate District, which contains all or portions of 11 counties, including Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou.

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