The Volcanic Legacy All-American Road officially opened on Saturday, May 31st A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Weed Arch and a barbecue at Lincoln Park celebrated this momentous occasion.

The All-American Road designation is special and set the Upstate California area apart from the rest of the state. We now join the company of Route 1 “Big Sur Coast Highway. There are several National Scenic Byways in California, but only two All-American Roads.

The Volcanic Legacy All-American Road connects Crater Lake National Park to Lassen Volcanic National Park via US Highway 97, Interstate 5 and State Highway 89, and has the potential to greatly increase tourism in this area.

The Volcanic Legacy Discovery Center, a 20,000-square foot interpretive center is proposed for Mount Shasta’s former Roseburg mill site. The Discovery Center is the recipient of a $465,600 grant, with some of the money earmarked for road signs along the 360-mile California portion of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway.

LaVada Erickson, Siskiyou County Supervisor, stated “I’m really happy. What this means is that we have the support not only from the state but from the federal government.” “To give half-million dollars is a pretty big statement.”

“I tip my hat to Jim Vancura and Joanne Steele, They are the ones who said we can do this,” Erickson said. “After hitting a brick wall most people would have given up, but they didn’t. This is going to be good for the whole county.”

The city of Mount Shasta has committed as much as 1- acres of land in the city-owned former mill site. The U.S. Forest Service has already secured $5.2 million in funding for the center.

The facility will be an interpretive center filled with exhibits on the history, ecology, culture, recreational opportunities and other aspect of the Mt. Shasta region. The center could draw as many as 50,000 tourists and Interstate 5 travelers a year to Mount Shasta and the surrounding communities.

A Volcanic Legacy Information Center is in place and will continue providing visitors with information until the opening of the Discovery Center, which is likely in the next four years. A web site for the byway is www.volacniclegacybyway.org and provides information and maps of the byway. For more information call the information center at (866)722-9929.

Yreka Hits the “Jackpot”

The state’s Employment Development Division indicator shows that Indian gaming is one of the positive economic growth areas in California.

“First Friday - Brown Bag” Meetings

The “brown bag” first Friday meetings should begin in late summer or early fall.

California Wage & Hour Law Seminar

The Workforce Connection’s Employer Resource Center sponsored “California Wage and Hour Law” employer seminar on May 15, 2003. Sessions were presented in both North and South County. The presenter was Mark Vegh from TOC Management Services. Mark works as the Employee Relations Counsel for TOC. Among the topics covered were overtime rules, alternative work weeks, meal and rest breaks, on call times, and record keeping issues. Approximately 60 employers attended the sessions and feedback was extremely positive.

The Workforce Connection Employer Resource Center sponsors frequent seminars for the business community. Topics for the coming year include Sexual Harassment Prevention, Cal-OSHA Requirements, Workers Compensation, Leave Laws, and California Legislative Update.

TOC's web site is located at: http://www.toc.org/

McCloud Mill Closing Doors

The California Cedar Products mill in McCloud announced in mid-April that it was going to be closing, with layoffs to begin in June, affecting approximately 98 employees. The mill was one of the major producers of “pencil” stock for the United States, but unfortunately, they have not been able compete with the foreign trade (TAA). California Cedar Products had to close other facilities in the Portland and Stockton area as well.

The Workforce Connection contacted the personnel department in April and spoke to the Human Resource Director regarding services that we could offer. A meeting was held at the work site on May 27th , to distribute rapid response packets. Staff talked about Unemployment Insurance, supportive services, job search, resume writing, labor market information and training opportunities. Representatives from the Workforce Connection included Jeanette Martin, EDD; Delores Virag, Siskiyou County Human Services; Josephine Wyatt, Community Coordinator; Renee Barr, STEP Lead Vocational Advisor; Bruno Grossi, STEP Career Development Advisor; and Paul Shelton, Employer Information Analyst.

Layoffs began in early June and will continue until late November when the mill will officially close. The Workforce Connection staff, continue to assist California Cedar in this transition.

Employer Appreciation Luncheon

The Workforce Connection Employer Resource Center held the First Annual Employer Appreciation Luncheon on June 25th at the Lake Shastina Golf Resort.

Twenty-six employers were represented at the complimentary luncheon which included a motivational talk from speaker Silver Rose. Rose, a motivational business consultant, spoke about how her goal is to help employees enjoy work so much that they come to say “Thank God it’s Monday.”

Citing her life story that started with 35 years of depression, Rose said her life changing epiphany moment came when she learned to appreciate life. “When you learn to appreciate what you have, everything you always want comes your way.” “This is the ‘Law of Attraction’ – you get what your focus on.”

Following the well received motivational talk, the Workforce Connection demonstrated appreciation to its business clients by giving out certificates of appreciation to the following employers:

STEP PLAYS VITAL ROLE IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
IN THE HAPPY CAMP AREA

The STEP Youth Program is very proud of eighteen year old Zachary Harkins and his accomplishments. Zachary received his diploma from Happy Camp High School in June 2002.

During his enrollment in the STEP Youth Program, Zachary participated in a work experience opportunity at the Karuk Building Center in Happy Camp. He worked as a stock and sales clerk for the business. In November 2002, the Karuk Building Center hired Zachary as part of their team. Zac really enjoys his job and feels his training provided him with the skills necessary to perform the duties of his new position.

Zachary is planning to attend College of the Redwoods in the Fall of 2003 and is saving money to reach his goals!

The STEP Youth Program would like to recognize the great accomplishments of several youth in Happy Camp. Last month, four STEP participants received their high school diplomas from Happy Camp High School, among the graduates was Beau Goodwin, Jr. Through Beau’s enrollment in the STEP Youth Program, he completed a work experience assignment as a Biological Aid at the USFS-Happy Camp Ranger District.

Beau received a Certificate of Completion for both Employability Skills Development and Basic Skills Goal Attainment. He was recognized in the Happy Camp Class of 2003 Award Ceremony for his outstanding educational achievement and received 11 Scholarships. Beau has been accepted to College of the Redwoods and will begin college in the Fall of 2003. Beau aspires to become a Biologist and feels his work experience assignment at the Happy Camp Ranger District assisted him in developing his career goals.

Beau is very involved in leadership activities through the Karuk Tribe of California. He served as Medicine Man for the Tribe this year. He believes in community involvement and has participated in the local youth sports program by coaching children in baseball.

Special congratulations are also in order to Kenneth Busby and Nickolaus Hillman of Happy Camp High School’s Class of 2003!! Both of these STEP Youth Participants will be serving our country in the military. Kenneth will be entering the Army in July 2003 and will be putting his efforts towards military police. Nickolaus will be leaving in August 2003 to the Navy and training to be a Crash and Salvage Rescue Team Member. Nick and Kenneth expressed appreciation from the mentoring, support and encouragement received throughout their enrollment in the STEP Youth Program.

USFS AND STEP YOUTH PROGRAM STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP

STEP, Inc. and the United States Forest Service continue to strengthen their partnership by assisting youth in the Happy Camp Area with their educational and employment objectives. STEP Youth Vocational Advisor, Janie Gaither, and Happy Camp Ranger District officials, Alan Vandiver and Valerie Linfoot, met in March 2003 to develop Summer Employment Opportunities for WIA eligible students.

Approximately ten STEP Youth Participants will be performing work experience activities at the Happy Camp Ranger District. The individual job placements are as follows:

• Office Clerk - Fire Division
• Office Clerk – Administrative Office
• Mechanic’s Helper – USFS Mechanic Shop
• Biological Aid – Botany and Wildlife Dept

This year, the partnership created a Natural Resource Crew to consist of five STEP Youth Program participants. This is a Natural Resource Crew that will participate in a variety of resource-orientated projects over a period of seven weeks. Special emphasis will be placed on safety, developing work skills, resource education and employability skills training.

The Natural Resource Crew will work with a variety of departments within the Happy Camp Ranger District including:

• Recreational Maintenance
• Indian Creek Beautification
• Silviculture
• River Park Interpretive Trail Project
• Fisheries Passage Clearing
• Trail Improvement
• River Access Management

The youth began employment on June 23, 2003. We look forward to sharing more information on the success of this exciting venture in the future!!!

Greg Newton Training

The California Workforce Association (CWA) sponsored a two-day, Greg Newton training in Redding on Building Employer Relationships…Making Business Satisfied, Lifelong Partners and Customers. The seminar was focused on starting off in the delivery of businesses services and/or improving our current business services delivery methods.

Staff gained knowledge in the following areas:

• Building Individual Relationships – Single point of contact, accountability and quality service delivery develop relationships.
• “Pre-Screening” – Be specific and accurate of the services that we offer.
• LISTEN – When you call on a business don’t try to sell your products, LISTEN to what they want.
• The difference between “Employers” and “Business” – Employers hire people and Businesses are more Economic Development.
• Industry Knowledge – Know the industry you’re working with.
• Marketing – Define your customer base (current customers, dormant customers and acquisition customers)