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Police search for wanted Santa Rosa man

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:50:00 PST

Santa Rosa police officers are looking for Justin James Free, a man they say may be armed and dangerous, after finding 143 marijuana plants and several rifles Tuesday at his westside home.

Pot charges for man injured by fireworks

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:20:00 PST

A Laytonville man injured when a firework he was setting off backfired now is facing possession of marijuana charges, Mendocino County sheriff's officials said.

Wednesday's low gas prices

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:05:00 PST

Santa Rosa's average price for regular gasoline was $2.315 a gallon today, according to AAA. A year ago, it was $3.424.
Among the area's typically low-price stations, these prices were reported this morning:
--$2.179 at Arco at Hearn and Corby Avenues in Santa Rosa.
--$2.179 at Arco at Fourth Street and Brookwood Avenue in Santa Rosa.

A beat of inspiration

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:00:00 PST

High-intensity Windsor Bloco drumming program provides an outlet for students away from the classroom.

Apple moth discovery may expand quarantine

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:02:00 PST

4 insects near Sonoma prompt Winegrape Commission to call for more action on pest

Diver's body found off Fort Ross beach

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

Sunnyvale abalone diver Jonathan Su still had his heavy weight belt on when divers found his body Monday afternoon, about a quarter-mile off of a Fort Ross beach.
Su, 29, disappeared Nov. 9 while diving with a cousin in the area in rough seas. Positive identification of his remains came Tuesday.

Harwood mill assets sold

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:11:00 PST

Piece by piece, the last of the family-owned Harwood mill was auctioned off to pay off a $3M debt to Wells Fargo Bank. Harwood Products (photo from 1997) was a victim of the nationwide housing slump, which caused lumber prices to drop.

Marine, Santa Rosa native drowns

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:29:00 PST

The body of a 29-year-old U.S. Marine who grew up in Santa Rosa has been found in waters off Okinawa in what authorities believe was a drowning accident.
Pfc. Adam J. Harwood was reported missing Sunday afternoon when he and a companion who were snorkeling off the west coast of the island were overcome by strong waves.

101 tied up after truck tips

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:50:00 PST

Firefighters clean up a fuel spill caused by an accident involving a dump truck and two SUVs on southbound Highway 101 at the Fifth Street overpass in Santa Rosa. The accident closed three lanes of southbound traffic for 2 hours on Tuesday.

Sonoma County votes almost all counted

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:21:00 PST

Final election tallies for Sonoma County are expected "before Thanksgiving," officials said Tuesday.
A lengthy ballot and large turnout already have extended the count two weeks after the Nov. 4 election.

Man killed in bike crash identified as Ukiah man, 69

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:23:00 PST

A Ukiah man who died while riding his bicycle Sunday was identified Tuesday as Bruno Teichman, 69.
CHP officers initially thought Teichman had been hit by a car as he rode on rural Talmage Road, but an autopsy determined he'd had a heart attack, Mendocino County Sheriff's Lt. Rusty Noe said.

Santa Rosa lauded for road improvements

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:23:00 PST

Santa Rosa's City Council heard something Tuesday it's not accustomed to -- praise.
Residents of the Fountaingrove neighborhood heaped plenty of it on city staff for implementing dozens of council-approved improvements to Fountain Grove Parkway over the past two years.

Hwy. 101 in Santa Rosa reopens after fuel spill

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:17:00 PST

A fuel spill temporarily closes southbound Highway 101 and two roads under it in downtown Santa Rosa as crews clean up a fuel spill after a crash involving a cement truck.

Sunny days ahead

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:52:00 PST

The sun rises through the redwoods on Vine Hill Road in Sebastopol Tuesday morning, bringing another sunny fall day to Sonoma County.

Tuesday's low gas prices

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:33:00 PST

Santa Rosa's average price for regular gasoline was $2.332 a gallon today, according to AAA. A year ago, it was $3.419.
Among the area's typically low-price stations, these prices were reported this morning:
--$2.219 at Arco at Hearn and Corby Avenues in Santa Rosa.
--$2.199 at Arco at Fourth Street and Brookwood Avenue in Santa Rosa.

SSU cutting admissions

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:21:00 PST

Sonoma State University will admit 500 fewer students next fall under a cost-cutting measure unveiled by the California State University chancellor.

SSU: Crime Scene 101

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:22:00 PST

Forensics-based TV shows like 'CSI' have sparked an interest in a Sonoma State University class where students get the chance to sift through and analyze evidence.

Napa teacher faces sex charges

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:02:00 PST

A Napa high school teacher was arraigned Tuesday in Sonoma County court on 10 felony charges of sexual activity with a teenage boy, including one count alleging the boy was unconscious at the time.

Laytonville man blows up hand in accident

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:19:00 PST

A Laytonville man blew up one hand late Monday night with an illegal firework, Mendocino County sheriff's officials said Tuesday.
Emergency crews were called at about midnight Monday to a Laytonville address and found the injured man.
"He blew up his hand with some type of firework mortar," sheriff's Lt. Rusty Noe said.

Dead cyclist ID'd

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:15:00 PST

A Ukiah man who died while riding his bicycle was identified Tuesday as Bruno Teichman, 69.
CHP officers initially thought Teichman had been hit by a car as he rode Sunday afternoon on rural Talmage Road.
But an autopsy determined he'd had a heart attack and wasn't in a traffic collision, sheriff's Lt. Rusty Noe said.

Petaluma pair arrested in drug bust

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:29:00 PST

A lengthy investigation into suspected drug sales by two Petaluma residents ended Monday with their arrest and a find of 24 guns and drugs for sale, police reported.
Kelly Newlin and Donald Austin were taken to Sonoma County Jail after their arrest Monday afternoon, said Sgt. Jason Lechleiter.

Is there hope for crab season'

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:06:00 PST

As crab season opens, poor catches put the delicacy is short supply at Sonoma County grocery stores. Area crabbers and consumers are hoping supply will get better but, if recent history is any indication, it doesn't look good.

Nissan, Petaluma talking electric cars

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:21:00 PST

Petaluma has taken the first step in entering a partnership with Nissan Motor Co. that could put its employees in electric vehicles by 2010.

Jury gets Bennett Valley rape case

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:22:00 PST

The jury in a Bennett Valley kidnapping and rape case began deliberating late Monday afternoon following closing arguments in which the defense attorney essentially admitted his client was guilty.

2nd driver may face DUI in crash

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:21:00 PST

An Angwin man hurt in a weekend crash that killed four others remained hospitalized Monday and facing possible arrest on suspicion of drunken driving, the CHP said.

Downed lines blamed in Ukiah blackout

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:23:00 PST

Downed power lines were the cause of a Ukiah power failure Monday evening, the city's police and fire department said.
Ukiah operates its own electric company. It was unknown late Monday how many households were without power or how long the power failure might last, emergency dispatchers said.

Healdsburg may go green

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:23:00 PST

Green building ordinances to promote environmentally friendly construction are in vogue, but Healdsburg is looking to take things further -- with a more encompassing 'Green City' program.

More firefighters head south to help

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:21:00 PST

Fire engines from the North Coast continued to trek south Monday, joining extensive fire lines at Southern California blazes that have burned hundreds of homes.

Power goes out in Ukiah

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:14:00 PST

Downed power lines were the culprit of a Ukiah power outage Monday evening, the city's police and fire department said.
Ukiah operates its own electric company serving city residents.
It was unknown Monday evening how many households were without power or how long the outage might last, emergency dispatchers said.

Jonestown 30 years later

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:30:00 PST