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SBA offers loans to Sonoma County businesses affected by salmon fishery closure
The U.S. Small Business Administration is now offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the California salmon fishery closure from April 6 to October 31. The SBA on November 29 declared a disaster following a request from the state Office of Emergency Services. Read full story
Sonoma County Department of Health Services awarded grant from the Office of Traffic Safety for child safety seat education program
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services has received a $90,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to support the county’s efforts in educating parents and caregivers about the importance of child safety seats and making sure that every child in our community travels safely. Read full story
Board of Supervisors declares emergency following detection of avian influenza at two local poultry farms
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today declared a local emergency following detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza at two commercial poultry farms in southern Sonoma County. The detection of the virus was announced on Friday following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, in coordination with the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Read full story
Sonoma Water, Sonoma County approve formation of Eel-Russian Project Authority
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, who also serve as the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Water Agency, voted today to approve a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement with Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission to form the Eel-Russian Project Authority. Read full story
Prescribed pile burning operations planned at Bouverie Wildflower Preserve and Sonoma Valley Regional Park
Sonoma County Regional Parks is planning to conduct pile burns at the Bouverie Wildflower Preserve and Sonoma Valley Regional Park from December 4th through December 15th. The upcoming pile burn is a continuation of fuels reduction work conducted by Park’s staff and the Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) that focused on reducing surface and ladder fuels to help protect the remaining trees and adjacent communities from future wildfire severity. Read full story
Sonoma County topped 50 miles of repaved roads, 54 culvert replacements in 2023
Sonoma County today announced the results of the Summer 2023 road construction season, which included the resurfacing of 50 miles of county-maintained roads and the replacement of 54 culverts. The work involved a combination of roads identified for the ongoing Pavement Preservation Program and roads that qualified for repair as part of the Fire Damage Recovery Paving Project supported by PG&E settlement funds. The cost of all paving work performed during the summer was approximately $32 million. Read full story
Prison inmate convicted of 1985 murder of Guerneville man denied parole once again
Inmate Vernon Bragg, now 70 years old of Dallas Texas, was denied parole yesterday by the California State Board of Parole Hearings following an afternoon hearing held at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. In 1985, Bragg was convicted of murder for the shooting and killing of Ray Rasmussen of Guerneville. Following the murder, Bragg was sentenced to an indeterminate life sentence in state prison. Read full story
Man sentenced for conspiracy to trespass and trespass at Sonoma County Farms
Wayne Hsiung, a 42-year-old California state bar licensed attorney from San Francisco, was sentenced earlier today to serve 2 years on probation and 90 days in county jail after having been convicted by a Sonoma County jury in November of this year to charges of felony conspiracy to commit trespass and two counts of trespass. The convictions stem from large animal rights protests staged on Sonoma County Farms in 2018 and 2019. Read full story
With respiratory viruses circulating, all Bay Area Health Officers recommend actions to stay healthy for the holidays
As levels of circulating respiratory viruses increase and people spend more time indoors for the holiday season, it’s important to know all the ways to stay healthy this winter. Read full story
Permit Sonoma to host cannabis ordinance update information meetings December 13
Permit Sonoma will host two Comprehensive Cannabis Program Update meetings on December 13 to update the public on key program elements and the mapping of residential enclaves in an effort to improve compatibility between cannabis land uses and the neighborhoods they are located within or near. Read full story