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Evans ready for budget challenge

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:45:00 PST

Assemblywoman Noreen Evans greets fellow Assemblyman Warren Furutani, left, and his wife Lisa before being sworn in at the State Capitol building in Sacramento Monday. Evans will lead a key budget committee as lawmakers trie to close the state's huge budget deficit.

Called to duty again

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:10:00 PST

The National Guard unit based in Petaluma is heading back to the war zone; this time to clear roads of explosives. About 100 citizen soldiers from the 235th Engineer Company leave Tuesday for additional training for a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Monday's low gas prices

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:16:00 PST

Santa Rosa's average price for regular gasoline was $1.978 a gallon today, according to AAA. A year ago, it was $3.409.
Among the area's typically low-price stations, these prices were reported this morning:
--$1.799 at Arco at Hearn and Corby Avenues in Santa Rosa.
--$1.799 at Arco at Fourth Street and Brookwood Avenue in Santa Rosa.

Old vine cut at historic home

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:59:00 PST

The removal of a grapevine at Gen. Mariano Vallejo's home in Sonoma State Historic Park has left a descendant of the general fuming. "There was no reason to remove it," said Martha Vallejo-McGettigan of Napa. "I was appalled when I heard about it."

Hwy. 101 victim was Forestville woman

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:32:00 PST

A woman killed while walking on Highway 101 was identified Monday morning as a Forestville resident.
Elizabeth Marie Stoner, 59, died Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

Fight against homelessness

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:20:00 PST

A unique apartment complex, Vida Nueva, is opening in Rohnert Park to provide permanent homes for people who otherwise could wind up living on the street. It offers subsidized housing with on-site services to address such special needs as mental illness or substance abuse.

Rescuers continue search for man on Mendocino coast

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:36:00 PST

Authorities Sunday continued to search the Mendocino coast for a man who fell into the churning tide Saturday and was swept away.
The search was called off Sunday night and set to resume this morning, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Tax approved, Gold Ridge ready to hire firefighters

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:20:00 PST

Thankful Gold Ridge fire officials soon expect to hire three new firefighters, the result of overwhelming voter approval of a parcel tax increase.
The vote was the southern and western Sebastopol fire district's fourth try to raise money from a parcel tax increase since 2002. The last effort, in 2006, lost by only seven votes.

Rethinking giving

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:56:00 PST

With about an hour of spare time at night, retired teacher Yolanda Martinez sits down in front of the television, crochet hook in hand, to fashion her Christmas gifts. Making gifts by hand is both meaningful and easy on the budget.

Pit bulls on the attack in Mendocino

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:07:00 PST

Pit bulls on the loose are wreaking havoc on livestock in rural Mendocino County and the problem seems to be getting worse, animal control officials said.
"They're a huge problem," said federal trapper Chris Brennan, noting that the number of problem pit bulls has increased by about a third from five years ago.

Volunteer opportunities

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:30:00 PST

Want to do some good over the holidays'
For a list of local volunteer opportunities, go to the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County Web site at www.volunteernow.org and click on the word "here" in green type in the middle of the page.

Finding the perfect tree

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:48:00 PST

The Sheppard family of Tiburon has been cutting their own tree at Larsen's the day after Thanksgiving for years, and this year was no exception. Tree-hunters were out in droves bringing a good start to the holiday season.

Black Friday shopping frenzy

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:37:00 PST

Holiday bargain hunters braved long lines and chilly temperatures hoping deep discounts on everything from clothes to computer games would help them shop more with less this season.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:43:00 PST

Santa stops to touch the hand of a young girl as he make his way through the throngs of people who greeted him Saturday after his arrival by boat to the turning basin in Petaluma.

Deer Park house fire under investigation

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:32:00 PST

State firefighters and local volunteers extinguished a house fire Saturday morning in Napa County's Deer Park community between St. Helena and Angwin.
Shortly before 6 a.m. fire awoke residents of the home on Mund Road off Deer Park Road. The occupants escaped the fire and from a neighbor's home called emergency dispatchers.

Infant in Willits carjacking found safe

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:21:00 PST

A terrifying morning for the mother of an infant boy began Friday when a carjacker hopped into an idling SUV and sped away from a Willits business with the child strapped into a car seat.

Santa Rosa rabbi loses 2 friends in India attacks

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:59:00 PST

For Rabbi Mendel Wolvovsky of Santa Rosa, the killings at the Chabad House in Mumbai, India, were especially heartbreaking.
Wolvovsky was a friend of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivkah, and last saw them at a national conference in New York before they set out for India in 2003.

Holiday glow in Yountville

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:21:00 PST

The 20th annual Festival of Lights, which kicked off Friday, includes a bigger budget, more bulbs and a taller Christmas tree. Many other communities are scaling back, but in this town of 3,000 north of Napa, the mood is, well, bright.

County government workers OK strike call

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:54:00 PST

Members of the union representing about 2,700 Sonoma County government workers have voted overwhelmingly to authorize their contract negotiating team to call a strike, if they see fit.

Kickback trial date to be set for city of Sonoma employee

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:20:00 PST

A former city of Sonoma water employee, indicted in October for mail fraud and accused of receiving almost $103,000 in kickbacks from awarding contracts, is scheduled to be in federal court in San Francisco on Tuesday to set a trial date.
Randall Cover, a 46-year-old Penn-grove resident, pleaded not guilty to one felony count in court Nov 13.

City of Santa Rosa in acquisitive mood

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:54:00 PST

Santa Rosa's government -- with assets that include parking garages, City Hall and the transit mall -- is the downtown's second-largest property owner, and city leaders have unveiled plans to expand its downtown holdings even further.

Police: Tip lead to arrest in student's slaying

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:36:00 PST

RENO, Nev. - Early in their investigation into the kidnapping and slaying of a young college woman, Reno police were convinced the suspect they described as a serial rapist was a chameleon who blended in with a community grieving the loss of former Mendocino resident Brianna Denison.

Rocket science' Exactly.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:00:00 PST

Tony Alcocer is Sonoma County's own rocket man -- he's been flying rockets for eight years. SSU is looking for a few wannabe scientists to launch their own rockets miles into the sky.

5.8M quake recorded off Eureka coast

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:55:00 PST

EUREKA - There have been no reports of injury or damage after a moderate underwater quake struck off the coast of Humboldt County.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the temblor had a magnitude of 5.8. It revised its estimate after initially saying it had a magnitude of 5.4. The quake hit at 5:42 a.m. Friday about 147 miles west of Eureka.

Bar business bearing up

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:42:00 PST

Even with the ever-worsening economy, county residents are bucking a national trend and still heading to the pub for a pint. "As the saying goes, people drink when times are good, but they may drink even more when times are bad," says one bar owner.

Heavy surf expected this weekend

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:06:00 PST

Weather forecasters issued a special caution Friday about heavy surf along the Northern California coast in anticipation of mild temperatures and high beach traffic this holiday weekend, the National Weather Service said.

Rise in aircraft lasering worrisome

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:20:00 PST

A Horizon passenger plane making its final approach to Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport late last year suddenly had its cockpit illuminated with the beam from a laser.

Special Turkey Day deliveries

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:39:00 PST

Friends and strangers gathered to share food and camaraderie at the Rev. Samuel Tharpe's 20th annual Thanksgiving meal and celebration at the Rohnert Park Senior Center. More than 300 dinners were delivered to people unable to leave their homes or workplaces.

Santa Rosa rocket man way beyond hobby stage

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:34:00 PST

Planning a wood fire' Thanksgiving is OK

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:33:00 PST

The Thanksgiving forecast calls for a nippy night, and lighting a fire for your family's Thanksgiving celebration won't violate air pollution rules. Lower temperatures have caused air quality officials to call three Spare the Air days banning wood burning since last week, but not for this Thursday.