KUKI News

Clearlake Mayor Nick Bennett was presented with a $100,000 check from Adventist Health Clear Lake CEO David Santos last night. The funds that were raised through the hospital’s inaugural November gala, will support the development of playground equipment and active exercise opportunities at Austin Park. – Santos said the hospital is committed to holding a similar event every year to raise funds to be used as contributions for communities. Mayor Nick Bennett says thanks to the donation, the Austin Park design should be completed soon with construction starting this summer.

There’s a change coming for the Mendocino County Cannabis Program. Starting April 1st, the county’s Cannabis Program Unit will be under the Department of Planning and Building Services and will report to Planning and Building Director Brent Schultz. The Cannabis Program Unit, which has been within the Department of Agriculture, is being moved to improve efficiencies regarding permits, licenses, and applications.

The City of Ukiah will be putting signs and fencing around a wetlands area near Costco. The city has received reports from concerned citizens about damage in the area from pedestrian traffic, overnight campers and litter. The area of concern is known as Wetlands Park on Airport Park Boulevard. The signs to be posted will state that the park is not for public use.

The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate a homicide that occurred along Highway 20 last month. 41-year-old Patrick Michael Weber was found dead in a white van that appeared to have crashed on the morning of February 21st. It was determined he didn’t die from the crash, but instead had been shot. A large quantity of marijuana was found inside the vehicle that police say Weber was not legally licensed to transport. The CHP is continuing to follow up on leads in the case.

A man has been honored with the Carnegie Hero Medal, for his quick action that saved lives in a Willits accident on May 26th, 2017. Forty-five-year-old Nicholas Anderson saved five people after a pickup truck collided with an SUV. Fire broke out at the front ends of both vehicles. With another man’s help, Anderson pried open one of the truck’s rear doors and freed a 7-year-old boy and a 22-month-old girl. Anderson then rescued three more people from the back of the truck before fire engulfed both vehicles. The Carnegie Medal for heroism is awarded to those who risk their lives for others in life-threatening situations.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors have approved the purchase of new voting equipment that will comply with state election rules. It’s anticipated the new equipment will be in place for the special election in May.

The city of Ukiah’s Planning Department has granted a permit for an auto repair shop to open on Talmage Road at Airport Park Boulevard. The Planning Department determined the businesses appearance would meet the city’s Design Guidelines. The auto-body shop will use the existing 7,000-square-foot building at 550 Talmage Road. Jeff Yokum has operated an auto body shop in Willits since 1991, and will be opening a second location in Ukiah.

The Clearlake Police Department will be hosting a “Citizens’ Academy” beginning Wednesday, April 3. The academy will be held Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the month of April. Attendees will get an inside look at the Clearlake Police Department. The academy is open to anyone over the age of 18 who can pass a brief background check. You can pick up an application at the Clearlake Police Department, or on the city of Clearlake’s website.

A head-on crash yesterday left three people with injuries. The collision happened on Highway 20 near Nice. 57-year-old Duane Roork, of Willits, was driving westbound on Highway 20 when his vehicle veered across the solid double yellow lines into the eastbound lane, and directly in the path of a semi. The truck driver, 29-year-old Jose Gomez, tried to avoid hitting Roork’s vehicle, but was unable to avoid the head-on crash. The impact pushed Roork’s vehicle across the westbound lane, where it hit a pickup driven by 50-year-old Thomas York, of Clearlake Oaks. Gomez and York both suffered minor injuries. Roork sustained major injuries and was airlifted by a REACH air ambulance to a hospital.

Two people were injured and one dog was killed after in a pitbull attack on Olympic Drive. Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to Olympic Drive and Cottonwood Street about 2 aggressive pit bulls. about two pitbull dogs. A man walking in the area was bitten by one of the dogs. An Animal Control Officer arrived and fell while trying to secure the dogs. The dogs then began attacking the ACO, causing multiple punctures and lacerations. During the attack a police officer at the scene fired a single shot at one of the dogs, fatally wounding it. The other dog was contained. The Animal Control Officer was treated and released at a hospital.