Election Ballot Deadlines

Posted today at 10:31am

If you want your vote reported on Election night, better get your ballot turned in by Thursday at 5pm in one of the 20 secure drop boxes. For voters still waiting to mail in ballots, there is something new in California. Ballots with a November 3rd postmark can be recieved by November 20th and still be counted. (photo courtesy Snopes)

---

Helicopter Ocean Rescue

Posted today at 10:27am

A man who fell off a cliff and into the ocean near Fort Ross Historic Park was rescued by Sonoma County Sheriff Helicopter Henry 1. The man had been fishing with friends when he fell. A rescue deputy was lowered on the end of a rope to the man, who was then lifted to the shore and taken to the hospital. (photo courtesy Sonoma West)

---

Road Work Nearly Complete

Posted today at 10:25am

Road improvements in Sonoma County are almost complete, to the relief of drivers dealing with months of detours and stops. 51 miles of roadway in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County have been repaired and resurfaced, which is more miles of roads than in the past two years. Along with the roads, Wohler and Boyes Blvd bridges are being replaced to meet seismic requirements. (photo courtesy County of Sonoma)

---

Best Beer Competition

Posted today at 10:18am

The American Homebrewers Association has tapped their list of the Best Beers in America, and Russian River Brewing Company's Pliny the Elder holds the second spot again. For the 4th consecutive year, Bell's Two Hearted Ale from Comstock Michigan is at the head of it's class. Chico's Sierra Nevada Pale Ale took 3rd, and squeezing into the top 10, Fort Bragg's North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin. (photo courtesy mybeercollectibles)

---

Windy Weather

Posted Monday morning

The winds continue this morning with strong sustained speeds from the North East at around 45 mph in the hills above Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Petaluma. Gusts of up to 80 mph were clocked in the areas near Mt. St. Helena in the Mayacamas. The strongest winds are expected through this morning across the south of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma then begin to diminish to breezy conditions early this afternoon. Humidity levels remain extremely low, with number in the single digits. High fire danger remains, even with temps are only in the 60's and 70's today. (photo courtesy Las Vegas Review-Journal)

---

Fires Monday

Posted Monday morning

There were several small fires through the night and this morning around the county. North of Healdsburg and East of Lytton Springs Road on Passalacqua Road, around 10 engines are finishing up a fire from overnight. Several crews have been working on a fire south of Sebastopol on Blucher Valley Road in the Twin Hills area. Last night, Santa Rosa Fire crews quickly put out a fire at Sonoma Ave and Summerfield Rd, and another on Primrose Ave in the Bellvue area. A fire in Windsor off Pleasant Ave on Emmerson St., 6 fire engines worked to contain and extiguish it before it spreads. (photo courtesy CBS.SF)

---

PG&E Power Outage Resources

Posted Monday morning

And, those shut off's have turned the lights out for over 361,000 customers in over 30 counties to reduce the risk of sparking wildfires from downed electrical equipment due to the wind storm. In Sonoma County, 23, 400 residents are without power this morning, and will remain out until tomorrow as part of the Public Safety Power Shutoffs. There are Community Resource Centers opening this morning. Addresses are on the website, pge.com/PSPS update. You can get bottle water and snacks, and charge cell phone, lap tops and basic medical equipment. They are open from 8am until 10pm. (photo courtesy PG&E)

---

Red Flag Warning

Posted Monday morning

The Red Flag Warnings and Wind Advisorys continues today. The Red Flag Warning for the North Bay Mountains continues until tomorrow morning, and the warning for the Interior Valleys and the Wind Advisory extend until 11am this morning. In addition to the fire weather concerns, the winds will have the potential to bring down fire stressed trees and branches across the District. The winds will likely compromise tents, umbrellas, canopy and any outdoor items not secured and cause power outages not related to the PG&E power shutoffs. (photo courtesy Sacramento Bee)

---

Major Disaster Declatation

Posted Friday morning

Sonoma County has been added to the list of counties on the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support California's response to wildfires. Governor Newsom announced the addition of Sonoma County, along with Napa and Shasta counties, initially approved by the White House a week ago. The declaration helps people with support including housing, unemployment assistance, and legal services, and helps fund local government emergency response budgets. (photo courtesy Napa Valley Register)

---

Pop Up Testing Sites

Posted Friday morning

The pop up coronavirus testing sites have been successful this week, and will continue next week in the same locations. Today testing will take place at Burton Avenue Recreation Center in Rohnert Park between 9 and 11:30 this morning. Next week will repeat this week's schedule. Tuesday afternoon at Andy's Unity Park in Santa Rosa, Wednesday morning in Healdsburg, Thursday at Roseland Library, and Friday again in Rohnert Park. (photo courtesy News Break)

---

Sonoma School

Posted Friday morning

A private school in Sonoma has become the first in the County to welcome students back to campus since the pandemic shut down classrooms seven months ago. The Presentation School has 54 students in grades K-2nd, and all but 5 returned to the school. Those 5 stayed home and participated with their class online. The school won approval from the Sonoma County Department of Health Services earlier this month. (photo courtesy Sonoma Index-Tribune)

---

PG&E Cancels Sonoma County PSPS

Posted about a week ago

PG&E announced today that they have dropped the immediate threat of power shut offs today and tonight because of improved weather conditions. PG&E announced they are no longer forecasting a public safety power shutoff for 8 bay area counties including Alameda, Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Santa Clara, and Sonoma. However, the National Weather Service is predicting a strong wind system coming to the area Sunday and into Monday. (photo courtesy PG&E)

---

Giants Cutout Auction

Posted about a week ago

The season ended for the San Francisco Giants, and now the fan cutouts are being released to those who spent money to have their image watch over the COVID closed season in the park for fans. Comentator and former Giants Player Mike Krukow announced the celebrity cutouts of players, Star Wars characters, Tony Bennett, and more, are being auctioned off for the Junior Giants programs for kids, and the Giants Community Fund. Bid at JRGiants.org. (photo courtesy MLB)

---

COVID-19 Pop Up Testing

Posted about a week ago

Sonoma County's pop up COVID testing site will be at the Roseland Library on Sebastopol Road this afternoon between 1:30 - 4pm, and in Rohnert Park tomorrow morning at Burton Avenue Community Center, from 9 - 11:30. You need to call for an appointment at 545-4667. As of last night, another 57 positive cases were added to the Sonoma County list, raising it to 1,535. You can find out more on our website, or by going to socoemergency.org (photo courtesy Google)

---