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County of Sonoma - News and Press Releases

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June 06, 2023 | County Administrator's Office

Sonoma County supervisors authorize $50,000 toward memorial honoring WWII airmen who died during training

The Board of Supervisors today authorized $50,000 toward a memorial honoring the lives of airmen who died in Sonoma County while training to fight in World War II. The town of Windsor has also committed $50,000 to the installation, which will consist of three granite panels on the Windsor Town Green. Read full story


June 06, 2023 | County Administrator's Office

Supervisors approve Sonoma Valley service hub plans

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved plans to lease an office in Sonoma Valley for a future hub for county services, bringing important economic assistance, child support and health services to an underserved community. The planned Sonoma Valley hub is part of a broader initiative to establish regional service centers in remote parts of Sonoma County with access to transportation systems to provide more equitable public access to services. Read full story


June 05, 2023 | County Administrator's Office

Public invited to comment on proposals to change Sonoma County’s Living Wage Ordinance

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is seeking public input on a series of proposed changes to the county’s Living Wage Ordinance during a special meeting on Monday, June 12. Read full story


June 02, 2023 | Natural Resources

Russian River Inflatable Dam Being Inflated

Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) will begin the multi-day process of inflating its rubber dam located in the Russian River near Forestville on June 5. The rubber dam is a critical component of the Russian River water supply system that provides naturally filtered drinking water to more than 600,000 residents in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Read full story


June 01, 2023 | Office of the District Attorney

Victims Speak Out as Santa Rosa Child Molester Sentenced to Life in Prison

Defendant Thomas Anthony Yanes, 62 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Mark Urioste to serve 30 years to life in prison. Yanes had previously entered a guilty plea to four offenses including aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual penetration of a child 10 years of age or younger, and two separate offenses involving lewd acts committed upon a child under the age of 14. Yanes committed his offenses against four separate children. Read full story


June 01, 2023 | Permit Sonoma

Free county chipping program opens for 2023 season

The County of Sonoma has begun accepting applications for its seasonal Chipper Program, which provides free chipper services to residents seeking to make their property more wildfire safe. Provided through the Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division, this free service assists property owners in creating defensible space, which can be critical in preventing the spread of a wildfire to a home. Read full story


June 01, 2023 | Department of Emergency Management

Evacuation exercise planned for upper Mark West Springs watershed community

The Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, in partnership with community preparedness groups, will be holding an evacuation exercise on Sunday, June 11 for the upper Mark West Springs watershed community. Read full story


June 01, 2023 | Department of Human Services

Sonoma County to hold first-ever memorial service for 500 unclaimed people buried without a funeral

Sonoma County leaders will host the county’s first-ever memorial service of its kind on June 10 to honor the lives of hundreds of homeless, poor, elderly and other people who have died in the county without family or money to make burial arrangements. Read full story


June 01, 2023 | Natural Resources

State approves Sonoma Water’s Request for Temporary Changes in Russian River Flows

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) recently approved a request by the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) to modify Russian River instream flows. The Temporary Urgency Change Petition (TUCP) filed by Sonoma Water in April, and approved by the State Board on May 19, amends Sonoma Water’s water rights permits and State Board Decision 1610 in order to comply with the 2008 Russian River Biological Opinion and to enhance salmonid habitat in Dry Creek and the mainstem Russian River. Read full story


May 30, 2023 | Office of the District Attorney

Concord Man Convicted for 2019 Petaluma Outlets Murder

Defendant David Kyle Lubkin, 29 years old of Concord, CA, was convicted today by jury of First Degree Murder and Discharging a Firearm at a Motor Vehicle causing death. These convictions stem from the September 28, 2019 killing of 19 year-old Ezequiel Garcia at the Petaluma Outlets. Read full story