KUKI News

Three people have been arrested following a robbery at a residence in the 17000 block of Low Gap Road in Ukiah. According to MCSO, on Tuesday at around 8:30 pm, two victims were confronted by armed suspects in the driveway of their residence. They were forced at gunpoint to open a safe at the location. The suspects took multiple items from the residence, including one of the victim’s vehicle. As the suspects were leaving, one victim was able to escape restraints and called police. Deputies located and stopped the stolen vehicle, but the driver fled on foot. Another vehicle that was involved was also stopped. The 2 suspects in that vehicle were arrested. The driver who had prerviously gotten away, was found and arrested yesterday.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports from citizens who have received phone calls from persons identifying themselves as department members stating citizens have outstanding arrest warrants. They are not only requesting personal identifying information, but also providing money wiring instructions and/or payment in the form of prepared visa cards or similar.
 
This is a scam  Lake County Sheriff’s Office are involved in this activity and the calls should be treated as scams. The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who receives such a call to NOT respond to the caller. Do not provide the caller with any personally identifying information, including your name, date of birth, address, social security card, bank information, or credit card information.
 
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating these reports of fraud. If you have any information concerning this, you may email your information to sheriff@lakesheriff.com. If you have questions regarding criminal cases or warrants, you may call the Court Clerk’s Office at (707) 263-2374.

Lake Mendocino water releases are being reduced as the search for the body of a missing boater continues. 40-year-old Vincent Soto, of Laytonville, has been missing since June 11. He and his father were on a fishing trip. The body of 62-year-old Carlos Soto was found that evening. The Sonoma County Water Agency began reducing releases of water from the lake on Monday afternoon, at the request of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

The CHP says neither drugs nor alcohol were determined to be a factor in a crash that resulted in a lumber and diesel spill in Clear Lake. On Sunday, a flatbed trailer loaded with approximately 47,000 pounds of redwood boards overturned on the shoulder of Highway 20. Approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the shoulder and into Clear Lake.

Triple A says in the wake of the new gas tax, the state’s average per-gallon price has risen to three-dollars and 76-cents.  Last week, the average was three-dollars and 75-cents.  But, Lake and Mendocino County’s gas remains below the average, despite the gas tax hike.  In Lakeport, the average price per gallon is $3.55, with the highest price at $3.65. Prices are a bit higher in Ukiah. The average price for a gallon of gas is at $3.57 with the highest price at $3.67.

Lake Transit Authority, in partnership with Lake Links, has announced that on July 16, they will begin offering a Medi Links service from Lakeport to Santa Rosa. To start, there will be two trips to Santa Rosa that will run each Tuesday. The service offers those without a car, or who are unable to drive, a convenient way to travel outside the county for specialized medical care.

A carnival operator has been fined for discharging grey water into a local creek. The Clearlake Police Department issued a $1,000 administrative citation to Brass Ring Amusements for “improper discharge” of greywater from two locations at Burns Valley Creek. Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the carnival at Austin Park, for a report of sewage being discharged into the creek. While no raw sewage discharge was found, police did find improper discharge of grey water Police found additional grey water had been discharged into the creek from a portable shower unit used by employees of the carnival. The carnival company could face further penalties as the Lake County District Attorney will conduct a criminal investigation and the police department is pursuing recovery of costs.

A 46-year-old male pedestrian was killed on Sunday when he was struck by a truck, while crossing State Route 1, at Ocean Drive, near Fort Bragg. CHP has released few details as they continue to investigate the crash.

The merged Ukiah toursim programs has a new director. At the start of the year, Visit Ukiah, the Ukiah Main Street Program, and the Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce consolidated. The organization will be run by Una Wirkebau, who most recently served as the executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce in Washington. Wirkebau says she’s thrilled to finally have the chance to live in a region she adores.

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office will hold a public meeting today to provide information and to seek input on the proposed Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project in Lake and Colusa counties. The open house meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, 15900 State Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks. The 30-day public comment period for the wind energy project will end July 24.