Walbridge Fire Update

Posted yesterday at 9:21am

Firefighters are still working the fires in Sonoma, Napa, and Lake counties. The LNU Lightning Complex Fires are now 98% contained and have burned over 363,000 acres, 55,000 in the Walbridge fire West of Healdsburg. The entire complex is expected to be 100% contained by October 1st. (photo courtesy Wildfire Today)

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FEMA Cost Share Increase

Posted yesterday at 9:20am

Congressman Mike Thompson, joined by several other key members of Congress, introduced legislation to adjust the Federal cost share of FEMA. The plan is to ease financial burdens on states, local and tribal communities that have been granted emergency declarations this year. It would raise the assistance from 75% now, to 90% federal help. (photo courtesy BBC)

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Santa Rosa Schools Decision

Posted yesterday at 9:18am

Santa Rosa City Schools voted unanimously to continue distance learning through the rest of 2020. The decison was expected for the nearly 16,000 students of the largest school district in Sonoma County. The meeting last night had comments from both parents and staff, sharply divided on what each felt was best for the academic and emotional wellbeing of students. (photo courtesy The Daily Californian)

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Economic Community Survey

Posted yesterday at 9:16am

The County of Sonoma’s Economic Recovery Committees have launched the Sonoma County Economic Recovery Community Survey and needs community feedback. Input from this survey will help inform a long term economic recovery strategy. The Economic Recovery Committees are focused on long term recovery with emphasis on business specific recovery, workforce recovery, and community recovery. The survey is available at SoCoLaunch.org. (photo courtesy Sonoma County)

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Sierra Rescue Tie To Sonoma County

Posted yesterday at 9:13am

A Sonoma County man led the crew of the California Army National Brigade who swooped in to the Sierra National Park to rescue hundreds of campers trapped by the Creek Fire east of Fresno. They were given special awards by President Trump this week during his visit to Sacramento. The Commander of that brigade who led the rescues is Coronel David Hall, a graduate of Casa Grande High School in Petaluma. (photo courtesy The Patriots Report)

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Public Health Officer Meeting

Posted Wednesday morning

This Afternoon, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase will hold an online community breifing regarding COVID 19. It will be held at 3:30 today on Zoom and Facebook, and after the briefing from Dr Mase, she will answer questions from the public and media. Submit questions in advance by email at public affairs@sonoma-county.org, or by commenting online during the Facebook Live post. (photo courtesy Petaluma Argus-Courier)

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Flu Shots Available Now

Posted Wednesday morning

The Flu Vaccine shots have becun being administered as health officials look ahead to what could be a bad flu season, which could put strain on hospitals and clinics. The flu vaccine is widely known to be safe and effective by health experts in dampening what can be devastating impacts of influenza, especially for the elderly and the young. The County is planning on drive thru flu shot clinics. (photo courtesy SelectHealth)

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PG&E Money Ideas Requested

Posted Wednesday morning

The city of Santa Rosa is asking residents to give input on the use of money received from PG&E. After the 2017 wildfires, PG&E was ordered to pay Santa Rosa $95 million. Residents are encouraged to learn more about the settlement funds at srcity.org, and then complete an online survey to provide input and ideas by October 4th. (photo courtesy PG&E)

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Santa Rosa Schools Zoom Meeting

Posted Wednesday morning

The future of Santa Rosa Schools going through this Fall and 2021 will be discussed in a Zoom meeting tonight. Superintendent Diann Kitamura is expected to recommend that classrooms remaim closed through December, and stay with distance learning. The decision is in line with Sonoma County Schools, and Health Officer Dr. Mase. To join the meeting, go to sr schools.org. (photo courtesy Dave's Travel Corner)

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Healdsburg Hotel Penalized

Posted Wednesday morning

A luxury hotel in Healdsburg that hasn't even opened yet, has already be slapped with $6.4 million environmental penality. Erosion from construction sent millions of gallons of mud and sediment into the Russian River watershed, putting fish and other wildlife at risk. Montage Healdsburg Hotel is scheduled to open in December. (photo courtesy Hospitality Net)

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Walbridge Fire Update

Posted Monday morning

Today, firefighters are continuing to work to reinforce containment lines in the Walbridge Fire, and also the fires in Napa and Lake Counties. The Walbridge Fire is now 96% contained. One volunteer firefighter from Petaluma had his fire pack stolen while sleeping in his fire vehicle following a long fire fighting shift on the Walbridge Fire. (photo courtesy Napa Valley Register)

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FEMA Center Open

Posted Monday morning

FEMA, has opened a "mobile response intake center" in Santa Rosa, to help those impacted by the Walbridge or Meyers fires. You'll be able to obtain information and support from a variety of assistance programs. The FEMA center is open Monday through Sunday, 9-6, and is located at the offices of the Sonoma County Office of Education. (photo courtesy wikipedia)

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COVID-19 Numbers Monday

Posted Monday morning

After 6 months of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, the numbers here in Sonoma County have grown, but now we are starting to see some changes in the right direction. Although there are 35 more cases added in the past 24 hours, there have been 499 less active cases, and 534 recoveries from the virus. (photo coutesy Fox News)

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Local Scientists Win NASA Award

Posted Monday morning

Two Sonoma County scientists have won a NASA award for coming up with a small device that measures X-Rays in the sunlight. The device will possibly accompany a space payload on a trip to the moon scheduled for 2024. Congratulations to Phil Jobson of Santa Rosa and Garret Jernigan of Petaluma. (photo courtesy Facebook)

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9/11 Remembrance

Posted about a week ago

One this day in 2001, the United States was attacked by terrorists who hijacked flights that were then crashed into the twin towers in New York, and the Pentegon, and another bound for San Francisco that was diverted and crashed into a field in Pennsulvania after brave passengers stormed the cockpit. Today, the commemoration of 9/11 has had to change because of the coronavirus pandemic. The reading of the victims' names has been replaced by a playing of a the recorded readings, and only limited displays at the World Trade Center. Vice President Mike Pence has visited both of the remembrances in New York, while President Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden plan to go to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. (photo courtesy Washington County School District)

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Deadly COVID-19 Numbers

Posted about a week ago

Sonoma County has passed the deadly number of 100 fatalities due to the effects of COVID 19. At least 84 of the 105 deaths have been seniors over 65 with underlying medical problems within skilled nursing homes, assisted living, and board and care homes. Currently there are over 2100 active cases, adding 38 more since yesterday. (photo courtesy Consumer Reports)

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COVID testing time

Posted about a week ago

California's typical turnaround time for coronavirus tests has dropped to less than two days. State health officials said that level allows for effective isolation and quarantine of those who are infected to limit the spread.. Improvements in capacity and turnaround will allow the state to soon begin what is commonly called surveillance testing. (photo courtesy PBS)

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Cal State Online Plan Extension

Posted about a week ago

Most Cal State University classes will remain online only for the rest of the year. Because of the pandemic, the decision was made to continue the virtual setting for the nation's largest public university system. There will be some limited exemptions for classes that can only be done in person, but those only represent 7% of classes, and on-campus housing will also be reduced. (photo courtesy ESM Solutions)

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New Hiking Trail Opens

Posted about a week ago

A new trail for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians has opened at Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. The Lawson Trail provides the first public access to the 247 acre Lawson Expansion on the western flank of Hood Mountain. The trail was finished with funds from the Measure M sales tax Sonoma County voters approved in 2018. (photo courtesy County of Sonoma)

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