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Sonoma County Project Homekey site approved
George’s Hideaway located along Highway 116 in Guerneville has been approved to become Sonoma County’s latest supportive housing site under a list of approved Project Homekey sites released today by the state Department of Housing & Community Development. The former tavern and restaurant will be the sixth overall county location funded through Project Homekey, a state initiative to convert vacant or underused buildings into housing for homeless individuals or those at risk of homelessness. Read full story
Dan Fruchey to be appointed director of Sonoma County’s Department of Information Systems
Dan Fruchey, a veteran technology manager with 25 years of experience using data and communications tools to help county agencies deliver public services, has been named director of the Sonoma County Department of Information Systems following a nationwide recruitment search. Read full story
North Bay Reuse Program: Phase 2 Program Application Receives Federal Funding
Today the Bureau of Reclamation announced that the North Bay Water Reuse Program (NBWRP) will receive $6.9M for the Phase 2 Program as part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Help Communities Reduce Vulnerability to Drought. Appropriated federal funding will be used for the planning, design and construction of water reuse projects across the country. Read full story
Operator of Santa Rosa Drug House Sentenced to Serve 16 Years in State Prison on Charges of Involuntary Manslaughter
Defendant Toby Rosa, 50 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Robert LaForge to serve 16 years in state prison after being found guilty by a Sonoma County jury in April of last year of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, in addition to charges of administering methamphetamine causing great bodily injury, keeping a house for drug use, and possession of methamphetamine. Read full story
Permit Sonoma releases draft Environmental Impact Report for Sonoma Developmental Center
Permit Sonoma today released the draft Environmental Impact Report and a draft specific plan concerning the future development of the Sonoma Developmental Center site. The report evaluated 16 key areas of the proposed specific plan, a lower density alternative, a historic preservation alternative, and two alternatives where the County does not adopt a plan and the State leads development of the site. Read full story
Extended nomination period opens for November election
Candidate nominations for select school, city, and special district offices have been extended to Wednesday, Aug. 17, for any qualified person, except the incumbent(s), because one or more of the incumbents did not file. Read full story
County of Sonoma health officials issue heat alert
The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services has issued a Heat Alert in response to the National Weather Service’s Excessive Heat Warning for the inland areas from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, August 16. Read full story
Rohnert Park Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Molesting Minors
Defendant Dana McGowan, 70 years old of Rohnert Park, was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg to serve 45 years-to-life in state prison following his pleas of “no contest” in June of this year to multiple charges of child molestation. Read full story
Man Convicted of Attempted Murder of Elderly Rohnert Park Man While Wearing Trump Mask and Santa Disguise Sentenced to Life in Prison
Defendant Gerald Jacinth, 76 years-old of Las Vegas, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg to serve the maximum term of 30 years-to-life in state prison after being found guilty by a jury in July of this year of charges of premeditated attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. The jury also found “true” allegations that Jacinth discharged a firearm and inflicted great bodily injury. Read full story
Property tax relief available to eligible homeowners impacted by COVID-19 pandemic
The California Mortgage Relief Program is providing one-time payments to qualified homeowners who have fallen behind on their housing payments. Using $1 billion in federal funds, the program is helping homeowners who had a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic by covering missed mortgage and property tax payments. Read full story