The flood of incoming emails, news tips and press releases never ceases. Some days it’s like we’re in the batting cage and somebody cranked the news-fastball-pitch machine speed up to “Lucy and Ethel.”

We find places for most of the incoming, such as in main articles or in the press-release (does that sound suggestive?) section at the bottom left corner of the home page, where webmaster Joe (hi, Joe!) posts many local items, or on the right sidebar, where webmaster Jim (hi, Jim!) posts national stories of local interest.

Still, the sheer volume of updates means some things get away from us. So let’s catch up a bit with a newzblitzkrieg.

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The Benton Dog Park Association has raised enough cash to meet its partner goal with the city for upgrades for the city only off-leash park. President Jenn Bulmer says the group raised $4,000 to get a new water fountain for the large-dog park and water for the small-dog park, including a spigot, which means no more hauling buckets. Inside the north gate will be a three-tier water fountain (adult, child/handicap-accessible, and pets) on a concrete pad about 30 feet from the fence. The current water fountain will remain with the hose bib. Total cost will be about $21,175 dollars. Bulmer sends heartfelt gratitude for every dollar and every effort toward making this come true.
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Shasta County flu shot clinics have begun and will run through the first week of December. To make an appointment for a $10 shot, call 225-5591 or 1-800-971-1999.

Public Health has several offices:
Anderson, 2889 East Center Street
Burney, 37491 Enterprise Drive, Suite D
City of Shasta Lake, 4217 Front Street
Redding, 2650 Breslauer Way
Downtown Redding at 1220 Sacramento Street
Public Health does not bill private insurance. Clients may request an itemized receipt to receive reimbursement from their insurance. Medi-Cal and Medicare Part B are accepted if you don’t carry other primary private insurance. The flu shot schedule can be found at shastaflushots.com or requested via mail by calling 225-5591.

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Eric Marshall, local engineer and pilot who had an unhappy Cessna landing in March 2008 almost-but-not-quite-to Benton Airpark in Redding, is up and around and spotted recently coming out of Baskin Robbins at Sunset Market. No crutches, no cane, no walker, just walking around free as a bird and as cheerful as you please. Amazing, considering how smashed-up he was and how long he was in physical therapy. Seemed to be enjoying an ice cream - looked like Rocky Road.

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California television personality Huell Howser is coming to Redding next week to do a show on Stillwater Business Park and other civic projects.

Howser, whose popular “California’s Gold” travelogue programs are carried on public television throughout the state, will visit Oct. 27 and 28, as part of a new series entitled “California’s Communities.”

Sponsored by the California Redevelopment Association, the 30-minute programs highlight what local officials and citizens are doing to make their communities more vibrant places to live and work. Howser is expected to report on other city projects completed with redevelopment resources.

Redding became a show candidate after Economic Development Director Jim Zauher responded to a magazine advertisement. The towns of Winters and Clovis already have been featured in the series.

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Shasta Community Health Center won a grant for operating support to build and operate a dental clinic in the city of Shasta Lake. CEO Dean Germano said competition was nationwide with over 253 communities competing for 62 grants.

The medical clinic, at 4215 Front Street, opened last year and leases space to Lim’s to operate a community pharmacy and to the Shasta County Public Health Department to provide services to the Shasta Lake community.

Germano said construction begins in a few months and the dental clinic should open by early next summer. It will be the third dental site owned and operated by Shasta Community Health Center, an area independent, non-profit organization with other dental clinics in the county.

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The third round of the entrepreneurial contest Venture Island North State brought the number of contestants who will compete in the final round for $25,000 to three:

James Phillips, Inovius

Gisele Maxwell, Shasta Crystals

Eric Mogensen, Elements

The final round — The Whole Piña Colada — is set for Nov. 6 at the Cascade Theatre. (Yours truly is a judge. The pressure, you can’t imagine.) Tickets are available for advance purchase at the box office; adults $20, students and children $10. Be there. I’ll know if you’re not.

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Mercy Medical Center in Redding recently received the Organ Donation Medal of Honor by the Department of Health & Human Services. This national award has been given annually since 2005 to honor active and successful organ donation programs. Mercy also recently received the National Research Corporation’s Consumer Choice Award for the greater Redding area.  That means local consumers ranked Mercy as the best for overall quality, best image and reputation, and best doctors and best nurses.

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Minuteman Press of Redding recently acquired Valley Secure Medscript Company of Oakdale, which specialized in printing secure prescriptions for the health-care industry. Minuteman transferred those operations to its Redding facility. Jay Farquhar’s Minuteman is a locally owned franchise that offers onsite graphic design, printing and copying, and promotional products.

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Keller Williams Redding has inked a deal to move to a new location, 2165 Larkspur Lane, the Alliance Title Building. It’s 8,100 square feet, with plenty of parking, spacious meeting rooms, training rooms, full kitchen and break room, elevator to second floor, spacious entry, reception area and four custom bathrooms.

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Shasta Builders Exchange CEO Kent Dagg says he’s feeling monumentally better as the year wears on, after his ATV tumble in the summer. He’s back to work full-time, weighing in on local politics here and there, and says he’s considering resuming a regular column about local civic issues in the SBE newsletter.

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