SACRAMENTO
California honors Caltrans workers for acts of heroism
California today recognized five Caltrans employees with the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor, the highest honor bestowed to public servants who performed extraordinary acts of heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty and at great risk to their own life.
“We are extremely proud of these five Caltrans workers who courageously risked their own lives to provide life-saving service to their community,” Caltrans Acting Director Mike Keever said. “Today, all of Caltrans joins Governor Gavin Newsom in honoring and thanking them for their selfless acts to help others.”
Receiving the Silver Medal of Valor:
John Bedolla, District 8 Highway Maintenance Worker, and Isai Camino, District 8 Highway Maintenance Leadworker, for courageous actions taken to rescue a mother and her child from an overturned vehicle on Interstate 15 on January 7, 2024.
Vernon Ladd, retired District 6 Landscape Maintenance Worker, and Jarett Walter Lopez, District 6 Equipment Operator, for heroic service rendered while assisting a group of children to escape their damaged school bus after it collided with a fuel truck on State Route 41 in Fresno on May 13, 2014.
Jerry Prado, District 7 Maintenance Area Superintendent, for intervening in a suicide attempt and providing physical and emotional support to a community member in crisis on March 13, 2024.
The annual State Employee Medal of Valor award was first presented by Governor Edmund G. Brown Sr. in 1959.
In the 66 years these awards have been given, more than 800 state employees—including 130 from Caltrans—have earned medals of valor for their courage and selflessness in the face of danger.
—Submitted
CLEARLAKE
Meet Councilmember Wilson
Clearlake Councilmember Mary Wilson moved to Clearlake in 2016, bringing with her a lifelong commitment to education, sustainability, and helping others thrive. Wilson is deeply invested in Clearlake’s success, from career pathways to green infrastructure to food security. She’s helping build a city where today’s work lays the foundation for tomorrow’s opportunities.
Wilson was born and raised in Wisconsin and spent many years managing a family business in Milwaukee. After many years in that role, she returned to school, earning her bachelor of science and master’s degrees, and receiving her ABD (all but dissertation) for completing the coursework toward a Ph.D. without completing her dissertation.
Her passion for expanding access to education began in Wisconsin, where she served as a tribal college outreach coordinator, growing the program from 25 students to more than 125. Today, she continues that mission as an adult education specialist with the Lake County Office of Education, working at Woodland Community College in Clearlake.
She helps residents determine whether to pursue a high school diploma or equivalency, and guides them through next steps like job training, career exploration, housing access, and workforce readiness. Her goal is to empower people to become self-sustaining and family-supporting employees.
On the Clearlake City Council, Wilson is focused on creating long-term opportunities for local families. She supports projects like the redevelopment of the Clearlake airport site, which will bring career pathways in fields like hospitality, retail, health services, and wellness. As she looks toward Clearlake’s future, Wilson wants the city to consider green infrastructure as part of growth and revitalization plans.
Outside of work and council duties, Wilson and her partner Tony are developing the Niwa Food Forest and Cultural Center on their property, a project rooted in permaculture. The garden serves as both a food source and an educational example, with the goal of growing one-third of their own food and inspiring others to do the same. Their dog Tater, a spirited Steelhead Pitbull, is a regular companion among the plum trees and walking onions.
What is a walking onion, you ask?
They’re easy-to-care-for vegetables, drought-tolerant and return year after year. Everything is edible, from the bulbs, stalks, and bulbils, making them a versatile, low-maintenance crop. Perma culturists love them because they multiply naturally and don’t need replanting.
—Submitted
