Community Briefs: January 2, 2013

Recycle your Christmas tree

The River Jim's Adventure Education program at Willows Intermediate School is collecting Christmas trees through Jan. 9.

Trees may be dropped off behind the bike racks at Willows Intermediate School, 1145 W. Cedar St., Willows.

Seventh- and eigth-grade students will use the trees to build fish habitat at Stony Gorge Reservoir this winter, and will return in the spring and summer to collect samples of fish species living there.

For more information, call Bill Shively at 934-6633, Ext. 1303.

Crab Feed and auction slated

The annual Willows Elks Lodge Crab Feed, Raffle and Auction will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 20 at 150 S. Shasta St., Willows.

Tickets are $35 and $15 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available from Elks members and at the Elks Lodge.

Proceeds benefit high school seniors in Glenn and Colusa counties.

For more information, call 934-4321.

Student speaker contest opens

The Willows Lions Club Student Speakers Contest topic this year is "How Do We Create and Keep Jobs in America?"

High school students are eligible to compete.

The contest will take place Jan. 31 at the Willows City Council chambers, 201 N. Lassen St.

The winner of the local club contest will advance for further opportunity to win awards and scholarships.

Sign up by Jan. 15 by calling LaVonne Hinton at 934-7640, or Carol Lemenager at 934-2396.

Input on expansion sought

The Colusa National Wildlife Refuge is proposing adding 75 acres to its hunting area, and the public can comment on the plan.

The land is already part of an undeveloped area of the refuge. No new land is being acquired, and none of the visitor area will be reduced.

There are two documents to be reviewed: Compatibility Determination for Hunting and a draft Environmental Assessment. The comment period ends on Feb. 21.

For more information or to comment, visit sacramentovalleyrefuges.fws.gov.

Catholic Ladies dealing cards

The Catholic Ladies Relief Society will hold its luncheon and card party at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 12 at St. Bernadette's Hall on Ware Avenue in Colusa.

The cost is $15. Door and raffle prizes will be awarded, as will prizes for the high scorers.

The chairwoman of the event is Gabriela Rone, with Vicky Stegall and Bobbi Jo Seaver serving as chairwomen of the luncheon.

To make reservations or for more information, call Rose Buria, 458-8583 (Whist); Marge Wallace, 476-2051 (Bridge); and Stegall 458-8009 (Pinochle).

Bald eagle hikes slated

The Bureau of Land Management is hosting free guided tours that Cache Creek Natural Area in Lake County that will include views of wintering bald eagles, as well as tule elk, golden eagles, osprey, herons, red-tailed hawks and egrets.

The hikes are scheduled for Jan. 12, Jan. 19 and Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, but early reservations are recommended.

The four-mile hikes last three to four hours. The trail includes a steep 600-foot climb in the first mile, so hikers should be in good physical condition. Hikers should wear sturdy hiking boots suitable for wet conditions and dress for cold weather.

They should carry water, a lunch and binoculars, as most eagle sightings are from a distance.

Participants will meet at 10 a.m. in the Redbud Trailhead parking area, eight miles east of Clearlake Oaks on Highway 20.

For more information or to reserve a spot, call the BLM Ukiah Field Office, (707) 468-4000. ?