KUKI News

Caltrans is responding to a report that they’ve been giving out the wrong total cost figures for the Willits Bypass Project on Highway 101 in Mendocino County. The news report states that the $300 million cost for the project that Caltrans reported was off by over 50%. In response, Caltrans District Director Matt Brady says they did mistakenly report $300 million as the total cost of the project as part of their opening day ceremony, however that cost only included construction costs, mitigation, etc., which was not the ‘total’ cost. An additional $159 million was spent for support costs including staff and consultants.

The Redwood Credit Union is warning about a scam. They say members are receiving a text message claiming to be from the National Credit Union Administration, which says that your card is being blocked. and provides a number to call, which then prompts you to enter your debit card number. The credit union says this is a fraudulent attempt to gain access to your account. They’ve provided more information online about the scam: https://www.redwoodcu.org/ask-rcu/article?kbid=4656

This week the Lake County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The monument, currently protected under the Antiquities Act, is part of a federal review as a result of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April. Some designations could be reversed.

Starting next month, yiou won’t face losing your driver’s licence because of unpaid traffic fines. Governor Brown, approved the provision as part of a series of bills he signed this week to enact the state budget. Brown says the punishment doesn’t help the state collect unpaid fines and can send low-income people into a cycle of job losses and more poverty.

Six people were involved in an accident on Highway 101 yesterday, including a Mendocino County Sheriff’s sergeant. The California Highway Patrol reports that an RV rear-ended the sergeant’s unmarked patrol truck on Highway 101 south of Dora Creek. The unmarked police truck was pushed into the back of a 2007 Honda CRV, which was pushed into a 2004 GMC Yukon. Sgt. Smith, and his passenger, who was participating in a a ride-along, sustained moderate injuries. A passenger in the Yukon also had moderate injures. Both Smith and his passenger were treated and released. The Garberville CHP Office is investigating the accident.

The Lakeside Campus in Lucerne of Marymount California University closed its doors without warning last week. According to District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele, no students, faculty, staff, or county officials were notified prior to the closing. No statement has been released about why the University left. Students will have the option to continue their studies either online or at the institution’s Southern California campus in Palos Verdes, which is about 8 hours away. The Board of Supervisors are now deciding what the county should t with the historic Lucerne Hotel, also known as the Castle, which had been leased by the University.

PG&E will be conducting low-flying aerial patrols around Mendocino County through tomorrow. The purpose is to identify dead tree hazards and survey power lines for fire season, as part of an extra effort to prevent wildfires this year.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit will be participating in Operation Dry Water from June 30 to July 2. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; where the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of deaths according to U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics 2015.

A Ukiah man died in a boat accident on Lake Mendocino over the weekened. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances of accident are under investigation. MCSO was contacted about the crash Saturday evening, just before 10:30. Two boats were involved, one boat may have had as many as 7 persons on board while the second boat had 3 on board at the time of the incident.One of the boats had just left the north boat ramp dock as the other boat was approaching the area of the dock when they collided. 26-year-old Miguel Corona, sustained major injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. 4 other people recieved minor to moderate injures.

The Lake County Office of Emergency Services is updating their Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and will be holding a couple of public meetings about it. Lake County OES says only communities that have a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan are eligible to apply for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant money and for lower costs of flood insurance for residents so they need it be as accurate as possible and encourage you to come listen and speak up.

The Planning Committee Meeting is July 12th from 2pm-4:30 pm in the Lake County Board of Supervisor’s Room.

The Public Information Meeting is that same day from 6pm-7:30pm at Kelseyville High School.