An atmospheric river is dousing the North Bay, as thunderstorms and reports of flooding across the region are prevalent. More than 1,000 customers across Sonoma and Napa counties experienced storm-related power failures last night. PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland says all of the power failures were caused by Tuesday’s storm but that PG&E was prepared for the downpour and has extra crews on standby.
Last night, Sonoma County officials issued an evacuation order for low-lying areas along the Russian River area, stretching from unincorporated Healdsburg to Jenner located at 36 feet or below.
All schools in Guerneville and Monte Rio school districts are closed today due to flooding. The Sonoma County Office of Education says all schools in the districts will be under a full closure with no virtual or in-person classes. For an updated list of school closures, visit the county website at scoe.org.
The California Highway Patrol says a Sonoma County man was killed in a crash on Highway 101 Tuesday. According to the CHP, the driver of a 2007 Ford was southbound on Hwy. 101 south of Hopland yesterday afternoon before 1 when the vehicle was involved in a “solo wreck near Mile Post Marker 7” in the southbound lanes of the highway. It was raining at the time of the crash. The driver, identified only as a 58-year-old Cloverdale man, died from his injuries. The CHP reports that “the cause of the crash is under investigation.
The Fort Bragg Police Department is seeking the public’s help in quickly locating and removing graffiti, something the city is seeing “a notable increase in over the past few weeks. The FBPD says they need the community’s help and want you to submit any suspicious activity via the online community portal or by calling the police department directly. The FBPD is also encouraging “victims of graffiti to take advantage of the city’s graffiti removal program which entitles graffiti victims to reimbursement for items utilized in the removal of graffiti up to a value of $75.
The city of Healdsburg could ban new outlet malls and big-box retailers from opening anywhere in the city. That update to the city’s retail planning roadmap was recommended by the Healdsburg Planning Commission last week. Chains, however, would be allowed to apply for exemptions known as conditional use permits to occupy existing storefronts in the southern downtown commercial district. The commission is also recommending banning so-called "formula businesses" from occupying storefronts in the historic Healdsburg Plaza. Those are shops with ten or more identical locations. The updates await approval by the full Healdsburg City Council.
A Mendocino Coast woman has been accused of attempted robbery and domestic battery. Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in Caspar over the weekend for a reported domestic violence incident. The caller, a 66-year-old male, told them he was involved in a verbal argument with his girlfriend, Lucie Hebert Myers. Deputies say they believe Hebert Myers attempted to take property from her boyfriend by force and committed a battery against his person during the altercation. She was booked in the Mendocino County jail and released on a $37,500 bond.
Ukiah High Schools FFA is facing tough choices after California bans poultry shows. Back in January, California’s State Veterinarian, Dr. Annette Jones, announced a statewide ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs to fight the growing spread of avian influenza. So far, the bird flu has killed just one person in the U.S, an elderly man in Louisiana. Wildcat Nation agriculture teacher Amanda Potter says she expects a surge in rabbit showings, saying students who exhibit poultry like to “stay with small animals.” She also noted a potential shift toward showing sheep, though this presents a challenge — Ukiah FFA currently has only three breeding lambs to supply for market projects.
The Ukiah City Council is holding its regularly scheduled meeting this evening to consider purchasing brand-new technology for the city. A few of the agenda items the City Council will consider include a proposal to purchase new security cameras for the Ukiah Civic Center property and approval of a 2025 Ford pickup truck for city use. The council will also consider a resolution appointing Elizabeth Kirsch, a local peer support specialist, to the Diversity and Equity Standing Committee, which aims to bring representation from diverse groups that represent the communities of Ukiah.
