KUKI News

A sentinel chicken and three mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus this week in Lake Couinty. According to the county’s Vector Control District, the sentinel chicken was from a flock in Upper Lake. Two of the positive mosquito samples were from Anderson Marsh and one was from the city of Clearlake. Last month, five mosquito samples from Lower Lake and Anderson Marsh tested positive for West Nile virus.

On a 5-0 vote, the Fort Bragg City Council accepted the retirement of City Manager Linda Ruffing after a three-hour closed session this week. City Council members had reportedly been discussing her future at closed session meetings, and at a meeting Tuesday night, several residents showed up to speak in support of Ruffing. That has prompted an investigation into how the closed session information was disclosed to the public. Ruffing’s retirement will be effective Jan. 12, 2018.

A fire that broke out behind Happy Donuts and Bagel on South State Street yesterday afternoon is being called a suspected arson. The fire started in vegetation and spread to a fence.

Street parking and boat ramp closures will go into effect tomorrow for the Lakeside Car and Boat Show, which kicks off today and lasts through Sunday in downtown Lakeport. The event was held for the first time last year, and this year it will have more cars and boats. The event will close the Third Street boat ramp to the public. The Fifth Street boat ramp will remain available to the public except when high speed boats are doing speed runs as part of the event. Street closures will be in effect tomorrow from 5AM-5Pm.

Full Press Release from the Lakeport Police Department:

DATES AND HOURS FOR NO PARKING:
Parking will be prohibited effective Saturday, August 19th from 5:00 AM until 5:00 PM starting at First St. extending east to Park St. and North on Park St. extending to Fifth St. and the city parking lots at the lake between Third and Fifth Streets. Parking is also prohibited East of Main St. on Second St., Third St, and Fourth St. and Main Street between First and Third Streets. Advisement of the “no parking” zones will be placed in those designated areas beginning no later than Thursday, August 17th at 5:00 PM. Vehicles parked or left standing in the designated no parking zones will be subject to tow at the owner’s expense.

DATES AND HOURS FOR STREET CLOSURES:
Street closures will be in effect on Main St. from First St. to Third St. Additionally, First St., Second St. and Third St. from Main St. east to the area of the lake and Park St between First and Third Streets will be closed from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday, August 19. Motorists wishing to attend are encouraged to find alternate routes of travel and parking during the event. Fourth Street East of Main Street will be one-way for westbound traffic.

BOAT LAUNCH FACILITIES:
The Third St. and First St. boat launch facilities will be closed to the public during the above times. Fifth St. and its boat launch facility and parking north of Fifth Street will remain open to the public during the event however, motorists should be aware there will be some delays on the launch ramp when event boats are doing speed runs off Library Park. Event staff will close the ramp during these times.

The following additional City or County boat ramps will be open and available for launch:
Hamilton boat launch located at 2815 Lakeshore Blvd. in Lakeport.
Lakeside County Park located at 1985 Park Dr. in Kelseyville.
Keeling Park located at 3000 Lakeshore Dr. in Nice.
Lucerne Harbor located at 6225 E. Hwy 20 in Lucerne.
Clearlake Ave. located on Clearlake Ave. in Lakeport.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION RULES:
The event is licensed to sell beer and wine on the premises. Alcoholic beverages purchased at the event can be carried to or consumed anywhere within the event area. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NOT PURCHASED AT THE EVENT CAN NOT BE BROUGHT INTO, POSSESSED OR CONSUMED IN THE EVENT AREA.

EVENT PARTICIPANTS INFORMATION:
Pre-registration participants need to report to Armstrong St. behind the old West America bank building located at 150 S. Main St. for check in. Personnel will be on hand to check you in and direct you to your designated parking area.

An event map is included. There is no charge for members of the public to attend this event.

This is a non-profit event supporting Operation Tango Mike http://operationtangomike.org/

For more information go to http://www.curbside.tv/lakeboatshow-qna

For full details, view this message on the web.

Ukiah City Council member Steve Scalmanini has withdrawn his appeal of the Planning Commission’s recent approval of Costco’s site development permit. His objection was over the lack of solar energy to be produced on the site. The move drew criticisim from the mayor, and threatened even further delays of the project that was first approved in 2014. Scalmanini says he’s received a commitment from the company to install more solar panels. As a result, the previously scheduled special meeting to hear the appeal on August 24 has been cancelled. Costco could break ground as soon as next month.

Joshua Caleb “Buck” Brown, of Kelseyville, made his first court appearance after a shooting incident at his property on Monday. Brown shot at law enforcement officers and Caltrans employees who were removing an illegal blockade of his driveway. Brown was arraigend in Lake County Superior Court yesterday afternoon. He’s been charged with two counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, two counts of felony threats for the two Caltrans workers, two counts of negligent discharge of a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

A preliminary hearing was held in Mendocino Superior Court Monday in the trial of the murder of Jeffrey Settler. The Laytonville cannabis farmer was beaten and stabbed to death in November, 2016. Seven men are accused in the killing. On Monday, three accepted plea agreements in exchange for future testimony. The remaining four still face charges.

The Clearlake City Council will hold a protest hearing tonight on a proposal to raise garbage collection rates. The new rates, which went into effect on July 1, raised the monthly cost for a 32-gallon garbage container by $4.53. The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall.

The driver responsible for a hit-and-run collision near Laytonville on Sunday surrendered yesteday at the California Highway Patrol office in Ukiah. 33-year-old Bonifacio Ramirez Gomez of Lawndale, California, turned himself in at around noon yesterday and admitted to causing the accident that killed one and injured another. Gomez was traveling north on Highway 101, north of Steel Lane, in a Ford Explorer Sport Trac, when he crossed over the center line into the opposing lane, colliding with the right side of a Ford Falcon traveling south. The passenger of the Ford Falcon died at the scene. The driver remains hospitalized with major injuries.

Mendocino County has announced an update to the Cannabis Cultivation Program. Effective immediately applicants will start the permit process at the Department of Planning and Building Services for applicant site plan review including a zoning clearance. Applicants will receive a signed initial application review checklist that they will take to the Department of Agriculture. After proof of prior cultivation, applicants will take the checklist to the Treasurer’s Office to pay a non-refundable application fee. Here’s the direct link to the County’s press release:
https://www.mendocinocounty.org/Home/Components/News/News/73/626