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Santa Rosa Woman Sentenced to Thirty-Six Years Prison for Child Molestation
Christina Renee Whisman, 45 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced Thursday January 29th by the Honorable Paige Hein to serve 36 years in state prison after pleading no contest in November of last year to three separate charges of engaging in lewd conduct with a child under the age of 14 by force, fear, or duress; one charge of providing cocaine to a minor; and one additional charge of child molestation. Read full story
Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office moving to Airport Boulevard corridor
After decades at the County’s main campus in Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office will be moving to a new location near the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport on Feb. 2. The new office, located at 3880 Brickway Blvd., will be available to help people register to vote, check or update your voter registration status, or file papers to run for elected office. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves $1.5 million in vegetation management grants to reduce wildfire risk
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved $1.51 million in grants for 10 projects that will reduce wildfire risk in high-priority landscapes, improve safety along key evacuation routes and train workers in land management practices that protect communities from wildfires. Read full story
Public invited to share input as Board of Supervisors sets 2026 agenda during meeting in Sonoma Valley
The public is invited to offer input on the County’s top priorities on Tuesday, Feb. 3, when the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold its meeting in Sonoma Valley. The meeting will include the Board’s annual priority setting session in which supervisors identify the goals they wish to accomplish for the coming year. It will be held at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building beginning at 10 a.m. Read full story
Advisory lifted for remaining coastal and river beaches downriver from Russian River wastewater spill
After two days of water sampling by Sonoma County’s environmental health agency at the remaining coastal beaches (Goat Rock, Stillwater, Black Point and Gualala) and river beaches (Johnson’s, Monte Rio and Patterson Point), the advisory to stay out of the water at these locations has been lifted today. The water testing was done following last week’s sewage spill at the Russian River County Sanitation District treatment plant in Guerneville and samples were within State Recreational Health standards. Read full story
Advisory lifted for three coastal beaches downriver from Russian River wastewater spill
After two days of water sampling by Sonoma County’s environmental health department at Doran, Campbell Cove and Salmon Creek beaches, the advisory to stay out of the water at these three beaches has been lifted. The water testing was done following this week’s sewage spill at the Russian River County Sanitation District treatment plant in Guerneville and the samples were found to be in the appropriate range. Read full story
Shawn Naputi Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Theft Spree Across Eleven Bay Area Counties
On May 8, 2024, Shawn Naputi walked into the Friedman's Home Improvement store on Santa Rosa Avenue, filled a trash can with more than $2400 worth of Friedman's merchandise, and headed for the exit. A sharp-eyed Friedman's employee recognized Mr. Naputi and his vehicle from prior Friedman's thefts and called the police. When employees started observing Mr. Naputi inside the store and Sonoma County Sheriff deputies arrived outside, Mr. Naputi abandoned the trashcan full of merchandise and walked out of the store. Sheriff Deputies spoke to the Friedman's employees and connected Mr. Naputi to seven (7) other Friedman's thefts, dating back to January 2024. Read full story
Fatal Sonoma DUI Crash Leads to Maximum Sentence
At the conclusion of a hearing Tuesday afternoon in front of the Honorable Mark Urioste, the court sentenced Defendant Abdulhadi Awad to the maximum term of 12 years and 8 months in state prison for causing a deadly DUI crash that occurred on January 26, 2020 in the city of Sonoma. The crash resulted in the death of Jamie Narkunski and caused life-threatening injuries to his wife, Natalie Weiss. Judge Urioste told Awad that he had seen “no remorse” from Awad during the pendency of the case. Read full story
Sonoma County health officer issues advisory to not eat wild mushrooms after death of county resident
A Sonoma County resident died this past weekend after consuming wild mushrooms. Statewide, there were 35 cases of wild mushroom poisoning, including three deaths and three liver transplants, between Nov. 18 and Jan. 4. Given that, in an average year, fewer than five cases statewide would normally be expected, Sonoma County interim health officer Dr. Michael Stacey is advising residents not to eat wild mushrooms. Read full story
Sonoma County to reopen Cavedale Road after major dual landslide repairs
Sonoma County Public Infrastructure will mark the reopening of Cavedale Road with a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at the retaining wall site on Cavedale Road, alongside Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Rebecca Hermosillo. The ceremony will formally recognize the completion of major repairs following storm-related landslides. Read full story
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