Mystery of the Highway 101 wooden cows solved: Roadshow
"I started putting signs on the freeway when Jill and I were dating. We just celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary. Two of our children were married this year and my youngest is attending college, so I have no money, but I’m a rich man," says George Kukar.
Q: The wooden cows along Highway 101 were put there by George Kukar, owner of San Jose’s House of Pizza. Before the cows, there was a herd of sheep.
Carmen Connolly, San Jose
A: Mystery solved. George and his wife, Jill, have been popular for three decades with thousands of Highway 101 commuters who pass the family land in south San Jose where George posts signs and these wooden creatures.
The search began with a reader’s question about the wooden cows, saying he’d like to buy one for his wife, who loves cows. George wrote to tell us more.
Q: I started putting signs on the freeway when Jill and I were dating. We just celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary. Two of our children were married this year and my youngest is attending college, so I have no money, but I’m a rich man.
George Kukar
A Indeed, you are. Here’s a link to past stories about George, Jill, and their lives over the years, as reflected in George’s roadside signs and wooden herds:
Q: My congratulations to the nimrods who came up with digital license plates. You just blew up California’s billion-dollar investment in license plate readers. Think about it: anyone with high school electronics skills and $20 for an LCD screen and credit card-sized computer can now make a real-looking license plate with any license number they want.
Just wait until people in San Diego start getting bills for crossing the Bay Bridge. Or people being pulled after someone spoofed their license number during a bank heist.
Rick Seim, Stockton
A: I'm sure there will be a few people trying to scam the system, but hopefully, it will not be a huge issue.
Q: I would like to share a Good Samaritan story.
As I was driving south on El Camino Real on my way to southbound Highway 85, I noticed that cars in front of me would not turn but, at the last minute, drive straight ahead.
As I got closer, I saw a person waving drivers away from the turn, indicating that they should continue on El Camino. He was in full bicycle gear, with his bike on the shoulder. He had noticed as he rode that southbound 85 traffic was at a total standstill.
I shall be forever grateful that this person decided that, instead of continuing on his ride, it was more important to alert automobile drivers.
Tineke Graafland, Sunnyvale
A: Good Samaritans need to be applauded.
Guess the price of gas, win a fill-up on Mr. Roadshow
Predict the average statewide price of gas on Nov. 15 and you can win a free fill-up for your car, courtesy of Mr. Roadshow. The deadline is Nov. 1. Send your entry with "Gas contest" in the subject line to mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.