Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/243904
Friday, January 17, 2014 – Daily News 3B LaMalfa to hold Red Bluff office hours Redding hospital among 97 best Rep. Doug LaMalfa announced Thursday mobile staff office hours in Red Bluff Jan. 21. LaMalfa's staff will be on hand to answer questions, provide updates on legislation and help constituents with veteran's benefits, Social Security and other federal programs. The office hours are scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama counties. Restrictions combat recycling fraud SACRAMENTO – California has tightened restrictions on the importation of empty bottles and cans to prevent such materials from being illegally redeemed for cash under the state's beverage container recycling program. The change, announced today by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), is the most recent step in the state's continuing effort to protect the Beverage Container Recycling Fund from fraud. New regulations require anyone transporting into California a load of empty plastic or aluminum beverage containers weighing 25 pounds or more, or 250 pounds or more of glass, to pass through a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) quarantine inspection station and obtain and carry proof of inspection. A form documenting the source and destination of the material must also be completed. The new rules are effective immediately. "Unscrupulous individuals have taken advantage of our state's hugely successful recycling program by bringing ineligible containers into California and redeeming them for money from the fund," CalRecycle Director Caroll Mortensen said. "These regulations strengthen our ability to identify such schemers, and to penalize them if they break the law." California's bottle bill provides an incentive for beverage container recycling through California Redemption Value of 5 cents for containers less than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger. Out-of-state containers are not eligible for CRV, since the recycling fee is added to the price of the beverages sold in California. Most beverages other than milk, wine and distilled spirits are included in the program. Importers who fail to accurately complete the required documentation and submit it to a CDFA agent, or who refuse to allow CDFA personnel to inspect the load of empty beverage containers, can be fined up to $1,000 per violation, or prohibited from entering California. Recycling centers that accept out-of-state material are also subject to civil penalties and could have their certification suspended or revoked. In addition, the California Department of Justice investigates and prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of CalRecycle, which has administrative authority over the state's beverage container recycling program. Other recent changes CalRecycle has undertaken to protect the recycling fund and prevent fraud include new training requirements for operators of recycling centers and processing facilities, along with revised regulations that reduce the number of containers an individual can bring to recycling centers in a single day from 500 pounds of aluminum or plastic to 100 pounds, and from 2,500 pounds of glass to 1,000 pounds. Both of those changes took effect Jan. 1. REDDING — The Center for Joint and Spine Health at Mercy Medical Center Redding (MMCR) was recently recognized as one of the top 97 hospitals for outcomes following joint replacement surgery by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), according to a press release from Dignity Health. "The Center for Joint and Spine Health is a focused program that exists like a hospital within a hospital," said Shawn Brubaker, DO. "The team works collaboratively to identify opportunities for improvement, always focusing on patient safety and patient outcomes." The center, led by Co-Medical Directors Brubaker and Dr. Bradley Jones, offers pre-operative education and support from a dedicated nurse navigator, and is staffed by a team of orthopaedic certified registered nurses and physical therapists. "We know joint replacement surgery can make a significant difference in the lives of our patients," said Mark Korth, president, Dignity Health North State and Mercy Medical Center Redding. "Our physicians, nurses, therapists and staff work to create a culture where employees encourage each other to maintain the highest quality standards." Altogether, about 600,000 Medicare beneficiaries undergo a hip or knee replacement each year. For its evaluation, Medicare reviewed how often these patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge and how often they suffered from post-operative complications. According to Medicare, about 95 percent of U.S. hospitals were considered average. According to CMS, patients at average hospitals have a 5.4 percent chance of being readmitted and a 3.4 percent chance of suffering a complication. Ninety-seven hospitals were considered above average performers on either readmission measures or complication measures, and 25 of those hospitals were considered above average on both measures. To see the published data, go to the Hospital Compare website www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare. Expert answers to common DMV questions SACRAMENTO – Do you have questions about general driving related requirements like registration, licensing and insurance? Are you unclear about laws and restrictions related to driving? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers. "Save Time, Go Online," at www.dmv.ca.gov. You can submit any DMVrelated questions at AskDMV@dmv.ca.gov 1. Q. Can I just show up at a DMV field office and take a drive test, or do I need to have an appointment? A. No, DMV field offices require an appointment for a drive test. You can make a drive test appointment online at www.dmv.ca.gov or by calling 1–800–777–0133. When you arrive for your drive test you will need your permit, vehicle registration, and auto insurance. More information can be found about drive test requirements by checking the California Driver Handbook or online. 2. Q. I read that Governor Brown signed a law that will allow undocumented people to obtain a driver's license. Can you tell me when the law will take effect? A. You are correct, in October of last year Governor Brown signed AB 60, which requires DMV to issue driver's licenses to undocumented drivers and becomes operative by January 1, 2015. In the meantime, DMV will adopt regulations that will detail how applicants can prove identity and California residency. DMV will also put into effect a plan to serve the approximate 1.4 million people who are estimated to apply for a license under the new law. DMV encourages future all applicants for a driver's license, to prepare for the written exam by studying the California Driver Handbook available on the DMV webpage at www.dmv.ca.gov. The website also features sample tests that could be useful for the applicants. The California Driver Handbook is available in 10 languages at all DMV field offices: English, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. 3. Q. I am going to start riding my bike to work and I know there are rules that apply to bicyclists. Where can I get information about bicycle rules and road safety? A. Bicycles on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists and are subject to the same rules and regulations. Information about bicycle rules and important safety tips are available by visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles website at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/p ubs/brochures/fast_facts/f fdl37.htm. Since we're on Bull & Gelding Sale CUSTOM DAILY EDITIONS published only in the DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY Fresh coverage 5 days Tuesday, January 28 Wednesday, January 29 Thursday, January 30 Friday, January 31 & Saturday, Feb. 1 Deadline for 5x Flights: Friday, January 24 at 10AM Contact your Advertising Representative today (530) 527-2151 the topic of bicyclists, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1371, known as the Three Feet for Safety Act, which will require a motor vehicle driver passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction to pass with no less than 3 feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bicycle or driver. When three feet is not possible, the motor vehicle must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and only pass when no danger is present to the bicyclist. Failing to do so can incur a fine, regardless of a collision or not. This law will take effect September 16, 2014. 4. Q. I just received my driver license renewal notice in the mail. Does it make any real difference if I mail my payment or renew online via the Internet? A. Congratulations on being eligible to renew by mail, internet or telephone! In order to renew by mail, you must complete the renewal notice and send a check or money order only payable to DMV in the amount due $33. Print your driver license number on the back of your check/money order. Renew early in order to receive your new license before your current driver license expires. Renewing by mail or online is also convenient, and therefore, it's not necessary to visit a DMV office if you're eligible to renew by mail, internet or by telephone. No additional fee is charged for renewing your driver license or identification card online. If you renew via Internet, you may receive your license up to 3 to 4 days sooner than regular mail processing. In addition, paying online diminishes the customer's carbon footprint by going green, saving the cost of postage (as postage is going up to 49¢ for a First Class stamp, starting January 26th). Save Time, Go Online! Visit www.dmv.ca.gov or call 1-800-777-0133 for customer service. 5. Q. My father gave me his old car as a birth- day present. Since it was a gift, do I still need to get a smog inspection? A. It depends. If you acquire a vehicle that is currently registered in California from a spouse, domestic partner, sibling, child, parent, grandparent or grandchild, you are entitled to an exemption from the smog inspection due when transferring a vehicle, unless the vehicle is due for a biennial smog inspection because renewal fees are also due. Other family members or relations are not exempt and are required to obtain a smog inspection certification. For more information on the requirements of transferring a vehicle between family members, please visit www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/br ochures/howto/htvr1.htm. 6. Q. I just bought a boat. How do I know if it needs to be registered? A. In California, every sail powered vessel (boat) over eight feet in length and every motor driven vessel (regardless of length) that is not documented by the US Coast Guard and is used or on the waters of California are subject to be registered by the DMV. The vessel must be located in California. For detailed information on registering a vessel, please visit the following page on the California Department of Motor Vehicles web site: www.dmv.ca.gov/boatsin fo/boatreg.htm. *** Save Time, Go Online! Doing business with the DMV has never been easier. The DMV offers an array of services to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through its Website including online advance appointments for written and drive tests; vehicle registration and driver license renewals, selection of personalized license plates, changes of address and payment of fees via secure debit transactions. Customers can also effect transactions by calling DMV customer service at 1800-777-0133. DMV is a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).