KUKI News

An increase in sewer and water rates for city utility customers in Lakeport was approved by the City Council yesterday. The proposed rate increase will go into effect on November 1st. The rate change costs are contingent upon how much monthly water flow a location uses. The increases, to extend over a five-year period, will cover rising operating costs of equipment, supplies, treatment, labor, benefits and pensions. Over the course of five years, an average residential customer who uses 800 cubic feet of water per month, water and sewer rates combined are forecast to increase from around $127 to $157 monthly.

The driver of a Jeep that hit a tree and caught fire near Ukiah died in the crash Monday night. According to CHP, the accident happened on West Road in Redwood Valley. The passenger, a 21-year-old man from Covelo was seriously injured.

Following the second-driest year on record, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation yesterday, extending the drought emergency statewide. In March, Governor Newsom declared a drought emergency in Mendocino County, while standing in the dry bottom of Lake Mendocino. In May, the drought emergency was expanded to include several other counties including Lake. With the latest proclamation, all 58 of the state’s counties are now covered.

During their meeting today, the Ukiah City Council will consider moving forward with banning the retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters. Nitrous oxide is a gas used for sedation in medical procedures, but adults and youth often purchase the small canisters over the counter, or online, to get high. The City Council will look at creating an ordinance that would criminalize the sale, illegal use and possession of nitrous oxide in certain circumstances.

More details have been released about the fatal crash Sunday night on Highway 29 near Lakeport. According to police, the incident happened when a driver, going the wrong way, crashed head-on into another vehicle. 38-year-old Nicole Danielle Parrott was ejected from the vehicle. She and her unborn child died. The wrong-way driver, 34-year-old Jesse Andrew Maldnado, also died. Two passengers in Parrott’s vehicle were injured.

During a recent meeting of K-12 educators, Mendocino County Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren said schools have effectively “stopped COVID at the door.” Transmission data shows that of the 33 COVID cases identified in schools, all were attributable to community spread—not transmission at school. Mendocino County Superintendent of Schools Michelle Hutchins said, “This is important because people need to know schools are safe for students and staff.”

The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office completed the official canvass for September’s special gubernatorial recall election and will present the final results to the Board of Supervisors today. The official canvass was to be completed within a month for the election, which was held September 14th. The Registrar of Voters completed the work last Thursday. 59.59% of Lake County voters cast a ballot. 62.48% of voters opposed the recall.

Ukiah Unified School District’s Assistant Superintendent recently received a human resources award from the state. Nicole Glentzer received the 2021 Ray Curry Award from the Association of California School Administrators, awarded each year to an outstanding human resources administrator in California. Glentzer has served as assistant superintendent at Ukiah Unified since 2014.

Two people were killed in a crash on Highway 29 near Lakeport. Lakeport Fire, Northshore Fire, Cal Fire, the California Highway Patrol and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 8PM on northbound Highway 29 south of Hill Road. The crash involved two vehicles and completely shut down northbound Highway 29. In total, two people died at the scene and two people were transported to Sutter Lakeside. According to initial reports, the incident happened when a driver, going the wrong way, crashed head-on into another vehicle.

Fabian Lizarraga was sworn in last week as Chief of Police for the City of Willits by City Manager Brian Bender. Speaking on behalf of the police department, the new Chief said they are committed to the mission of providing professional police services, keeping the community safe and treating everyone with respect and dignity.