Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/776019
Caltrans' crews state- wide are preparing for the next round of winter storms and will be work- ing 24/7 monitoring state routes and keeping road- ways open and clear. Meteorologists are pre- dicting three more storm systems that will impact California. Crews across the state are preparing by plow- ing snow off of state routes, clearing culverts and drains, pumping wa- ter from roadways, cut- ting dead trees, remov- ing boulders and working inches from moving vehi- cles while trying to keep highways and freeways clear of debris. Over the past week, ded- icated crews worked 12- hour shifts, responding to more than 100 short- term closures. Crews were able to open some roads but portions of the state routes are still closed due to another round of winter weather. Caltrans executed more than 30 emergency contracts in response to $122 million in storm dam- age to quickly restore ac- cess to the traveling public. In a seven-day span, more than nine feet of snow fell onto state routes over Donner Summit in North- ern California, and Cal- trans responded to several flooded corridors along the coast and inland. "I cannot say enough about the work and com- mitment exhibited by our workers as they respond to emergencies and keep the roads clear," said Cal- trans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "Caltrans will continue its dedication to- wards keeping roadways open and will be working around the clock to help motorists reach their des- tinations." Caltrans anticipates ad- ditional closures with the new storm systems; mo- torists should check road conditions frequently. For the latest road condition information, the radio may be tuned to the Cal- trans Highway Advisory Radio at 530 AM, 1610 AM or 1670 AM or call the Cal- trans Road Condition Ho- tline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623). Real time condi- tions are available online and for mobile phones at http://quickmap.dot. ca.gov. During winter storm conditions, motorists should anticipate unex- pected delays and clo- sures. Caltrans strives to reduce the frequency and the length of unplanned closures on state highways. During major storms when traffic flow is heavy, Cal- trans may meter traffic to ease congestion. The following tips will assist you in making your winter driving experience safe and pleasant. Allow enough time for your trip. Be observant of everything around you. Re- member black ice is nearly invisible. Keep your fuel tank full and your windows clear. Drive as conditions permit; slower acceleration, slower speeds and slower braking in winter conditions. Re- duce speed and leave ex- tra room between you and the vehicle in front of you. Use headlights, not just parking or fog lights in foggy, rainy and snowy weather. Also remember that you must have your lights on when using your wipers. If you get stuck, stay with your vehicle and wait for help. If visibility dimin- ishes to the point that you no longer feel safe driving, do not stop in the traffic lanes. Use caution when cross- ing flooded roads and don't ignore warning signs. Wa- ter maybe deeper than you expect. Important items to check on your vehicle are: brakes, coolant, tires, windshield wipers, de- froster, heater, and exhaust systems. If possible have your vehicle checked by a professional mechanic. All vehicles, includ- ing those with four-wheel drive or snow tires, should carry correctly sized chains when traveling dur- ing snowy weather. High- way signs will indicate if chains are required. If mo- torists do not have chains in their possession, they may not be allowed to pro- ceed and risk being cited or fined. ROADCONDITIONS Caltrans prepares for winter storm systems Advocacy American Legion, Las- sen Post 0167 Red Bluff, 528-1026 American Legion, Rais- ner Post 45 Corning, 518-3152 Am Vets, Post 2002 Corning, 526-2883 VFW Los Molinos, 384-1301 Red Bluff, 528-1026 Corning Post 4218 Dis- trict 15 Auxiliary 4218, District 15 824-5957 DAV 529-4579 Marine Corps League, Detachment 1140 (888) MCL-1140 Military Family Support Group 529-1852 or 529-2416 Services Tehama County Veter- ans Service Office 529-3664 Tehama County Veter- ans Collaborative Tehama Together, 527- 2223 Veteran Resource Cen- ter Chico (530) 809-2831 Redding (530) 223-3211 VA Crisis Hotline (800) 273-8255 VA Homeless Outreach (530) 247-7917 Redding VA Outpatient Clinic (530) 226-7555 Chico VA Outpatient Clinic (530) 879-5000 Veterans Home, Red- ding (530) 224-3800 Faith Based Advocacy PATH — Poor And The Homeless 736-3959 Pastor Dave Lambers, VCF 736-3400 Serving veterans? If your local organiza- tion or government entity offers service specific to veterans, send contact in- formation to editor@red- bluffdailynews.com, fax to 527-9251 or drop it off at 728 Main Street in Red Bluff during business hours to be added to this listing. RESOURCES Veterans services, advocacy groups The following winter workshops with the Friends of the Chico State Herbar- ium have been scheduled. Natural Color Dye Work- shop, Jan. 28 Create a seasonal color palette from an array of na- tive California plant-based dyes. Each participant will leave the workshop with a beautiful palette of botan- ically-dyed samples as well as a gorgeous finished tex- tile. Sasha Duerr is a profes- sor at the California Col- lege of the Arts with a joint appointment in textiles and fine arts. He extensive work with plant-based dyes and ecological principles through local land-based sources and community has been featured in the New York Times, American Craft Magazine, Selvedge and Huffington Post. This workshop will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 129 Holt Hall at CSU, Chico. Cost is $100. Introduction to Fern biol- ogy and Evolution, March 11 Become fern fluent. This workshop will be a crash- course introduction to the ferns of the world with a fo- cus on species that can be observed in the wild in Cal- ifornia. This workshop will be led by Carl Rothfels, curator of ferns at UC Berkeley's Uni- versity Herbarium. In grad- uate school Carl became a full-fledged fernologist. Prior to that time he was a field botanist, herbarium curator and natural history interpreter in southern On- tario, Canada. This workshop will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 129 Holt Hall at CSU, Chico. Cost is $100. Register in advance by calling 898-5356, write to chatfield@csuchico.ed or visit www.friendsofthechi- costateherbarium.com/ eventsviewcalendar/. CHICO STATE Upcoming workshops planned at herbarium California State Parks Department reminds out- door enthusiasts that win- ter recreation can be haz- ardous. Every year, thousands of individuals and fami- lies enjoy California's win- ter season by playing in the snow, fishing, walking and hiking a trail, boating, off- highway recreation or vis- iting historical sites. Re- cent winter storms have changed the state's out- door landscape with snow in many higher elevation areas and many waterways have more water. While many may be ea- ger to enjoy this new land- scape, the department re- minds outdoor enthusiasts to properly plan for their outings by checking road conditions, site destination availability, the weather and by enjoying the out- doors safely with everyone. Below is some helpful information for outdoor enthusiasts for this year's winter season: Check road, site conditions As a result of the recent storms, some state parks were closed or have partial closures, and some roads leading to parks have been closed. Visitors may continue to experience some limited closure facilities, trails, roads, campgrounds, etc. as departmentstaffworktore- pairdamagefromthestorm and flood waters recede. Visitors are advised to call their destinations ahead of time or visit Cali- fornia State Park's webpage for availability. Road con- ditions and winter driving tips can be viewed online on Caltran's website. Check the weather Check the weather be- fore you leave. Make sure your equipment is appro- priate for the weather ex- pected. If heading to the snow, take tire chains. Parental supervision Actively supervise chil- dren in the outdoors, giv- ing them your undivided attention. Know the water Flood conditions can result in swift and cold river flows that can create treacherous conditions for all recreationists — waders, swimmers, paddlers, boat- ers, anglers and even hikers resting at the water's slip- pery edge. Use precaution and do not enter hazardous conditions. Many unseen obsta- cles can be lurking below the water's surface. Years of drought have allowed trees and shrubs to grow in river beds and banks. If conditions seem hazard- ous, postpone your outing or find out if guided trips are available in your area. Cold water can be dan- gerous. It reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same tem- perature. Cold water enter- ing the ear canal can cause vertigo and disorientation. This may confuse swim- mers, causing them to ven- ture deeper into the water. If you do decide to go boating, wear a properly- fitted life jacket. Conditions can change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills whenboatingorswimming. Wearing a life jacket can increase survival time and provide some thermal pro- tection against the onset of hypothermia. Most impor- tantly, it can keep you afloat until someone else can res- cue you. SNO-PARKs There are 19 SNO- PARKs in seven national forests. Season runs Nov. 1 to May 30. Day use fees are $5 per car and a sea- son pass is $25. Visitors have access to areas for general snow play and other activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fish- ing. Some locations offer staging areas and access to groomed trails in National Forests for over-snow vehi- cles such as snowmobiles. Visitation often exceeds parking capacity and facil- ity amenities. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis at all SNO-PARK sites. No refunds are issued if the SNO-PARK is full. Be patient. Carry a shovel and tire chains. Park in designated areas and drive carefully within SNO-PARK sites. Watch for pedestrians. Do not build campfires on paved areas. Do not lit- ter SNO-PARK sites. Take your trash with you when bins are full. Hiking safety Drink plenty of water. Let someone back at camp or at home know where you are going and when you plan on returning. Do not walk off-trail or enter closed areas. Wildlife lives in all state parks, even near urban ar- eas. Hike with a friend or family member. Off-Highway Vehicle safety Always wear a helmet and goggles when riding off-highway vehicles. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed. Supervise riders younger than 16; dirt bikes are not toys. Never permit young- sters to ride dirt bikes that are too tall or too powerful for their capabilities. For more information, visit parks.ca.gov. STATE PARKS Tips on enjoying winter recreational activities safely IWantToBeRecycled.org NOWOPENTONEWPATIENTSWITH AN EXPANDED MEDICAL TEAM • We accept Medi-Cal, Medi-Cal Managed Care by California Health and Wellness, Medicare, and most Private Insurance. • Assistance is available by Healthcare Options regarding Medi-Cal and Managed Medi-Cal questions or changes. • We are often available for same-day appointments. • A new clinic facility is coming soon to your community. We invite you to become part of our medical family. Call to schedule your appointment today. (530) 527-0350 TehamaCounty Health Services Agency Outpatient Clinic We are proud to offer quality primary care and family planning services by Dr. Jon Malan, Dr. Richard Wickenheiser, and our nurse practitioner on staff. 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