We’ve got some attaboys to hand out. Attagirls? Maybe I should stick with “good job.” Anyway …
Congratulations to Shasta College agriculture instructor Trena Kimier-Richards, who recently received a “Teacher of Excellence” award from the California Agriculture Teachers Association. Kimier-Richards was selected for her inspiration to students and dedication to preparing them for community leadership, higher education and careers. A California State University, Chico graduate, Kimier-Richards has been teaching in the agricultural field (agricultural field – get it? OK, sorry) for 19 years.
Congrats also to Redding Police Department Sgt. Casey Bokavich and Motor Officer Mike Woods, who had big success at a motorcycle skills contest in Oakland earlier this month. Bokavich claimed first place in the overall competition among 48 police motor officers from throughout Northern California, while Woods grabbed sixth place in the “challenge course” competition. What this means, scofflaws, hotrodders and crotch-rocket riders, is that you’re not going to get away from these guys.
Finally, a shout out to Redding race car driver Alex Schutte, who has taken over the point lead halfway through the U.S. Auto Club western midget series season. The traveling series for four-cylinder open wheel cars doesn’t come to our area, so you’re best chance to see Schutte stomp on the gas is probably over Labor Day weekend at the Calistoga Speedway dirt oval. Hey, you think Schutte could get away from those cops?
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• The folks at Healthy Shasta want to give out their own awards. They’re seeking nominations for “action heroes” – people and organizations that encourage others to incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their daily routines. Nomination forms, available on the Healthy Shasta website, are due by Friday, July 30. Hey, how about running and mountain biking event organizer Tori Parks?
• No awards, but congrats anyway to newly appointed KIXE public television station Board Members Eric Woodstrom, Bob Bliss and Carroll Ragland. Woodstrom is chief banking officer at Five Star Bank in Redding. Bliss is a retired computer information systems professor and current law enforcement volunteer. Ragland is an Oroville attorney.
• Hooray! The rest area on southbound Interstate 5 near Lakehead is open once again. Caltrans and Gifford Construction of Redding just completed a $1.7 million rehabilitation of the facility to bring it up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, double the size of the building, improve landscaping, construct a vending machine kiosk and install a new septic tank and a 6,000-gallon water tank for fire suppression. During peak periods, 560 vehicles an hour stop at the facility, according to Caltrans. That’s about one car every 6.5 seconds.
• The State of California has greatly expanded its Cash For Appliances energy-efficiency rebate program. My wife and I looked into this deal when it started back in April, and we quickly learned that no appliance we could actually afford qualified for a rebate. Apparently, a lot of other people found out the same thing, as applications for rebates have only trickled in. So, the Energy Commission has made more types of appliances, as well as entire heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, rebate-eligible. Check out the details on the Cash For Appliances website.
Paul Shigley is senior editor of California Planning & Development Report, a frequent contributor to Planning magazine and knows the distances between every rest stop on I-5. He lives in Centerville. Paul Shigley may be reached at pauls.anewscafe@gmail.com.
