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Articles by Matt Pera
A wine-lover’s guide to the Napa Valley — Backstage Winery
The valley is divided into 16 sub-regions, which each have commonalities that distinguish them within the diversity of the Napa Valley. These areas are officially referred to as American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs. The characteristics of each region drastically change the flavor of the grapes grown there, and in turn, the wines they are made into. When you find a Napa wine you love, knowing which AVA it came from provides an easy pathway to finding others like it.
3 Rohnert Park schools briefly lock down over gun report
Three schools in Rohnert Park were briefly put on lockdown Thursday while police investigated a report of somebody brandishing a gun near the campuses. The lockdowns lasted about 45 minutes at Rancho Cotate High School, Lawrence Jones Middle School and Richard Crane Elementary School.
Sheriff: Thieves steal $5,000 worth of vaporizers, tobacco from Fulton market
A group of thieves stole an estimated $5,000 worth of merchandise Wednesday night from a market in Fulton, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to GS Market on River Road at 8:12 p.m. but the four or five thieves were gone when they arrived, according to Sgt. Juan Valencia. He said they stole vaporizers and tobacco products and no weapons were seen. Deputies were given only a “vague description” of one of the suspects, Valencia said.
Fall arrives in Sonoma County as summer storm passes
Thursday marks the beginning of fall after a summer that included a record-setting heat wave in Sonoma County. The season is set to kick off with a warmup on the heels of a storm that brought welcome rain to the Bay Area. In Santa Rosa, a high of 80 degrees is forecast for Thursday, followed by highs in the mid- to upper 80s through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Santa Rosa man denied parole in 2001 gang killing
A Santa Rosa man has been denied parole again in the killing of a teenager in a 2001 gang-related shooting, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office announced. William Ernesto Dominguez, 38, will next be eligible for parole in 2029 following the ruling Sept. 15 by a parole board at High Desert State Prison in Susanville. He was also denied parole in 2016. Dominguez was sentenced to 25 years and 8 months in prison for the Feb. 17, 2001 killing of Oscar Diaz of Santa Rosa.
Authorities identify 19-year-old motorcyclist killed in Santa Rosa crash
The man who died Friday in Santa Rosa after crashing his motorcycle into a streetlight has been identified as Carlo Nossardi, 19, authorities said Tuesday. Nossardi, a Santa Rosa resident, died at the site of the crash, which happened at about 11:40 p.m. on Fulton Road near Onsrud Lane, according to Santa Rosa police. A witness told authorities Nossardi was going about 70 to 80 mph when he lost control of his motorcycle, hit the streetlight pole and was thrown from the bike.
Rohnert Park crash near DUI checkpoint results in arrest
A Friday night crash a block away from a DUI checkpoint in Rohnert Park resulted in an injury and an arrest, police said. The crash happened at 11:24 p.m. at the intersection of Rohnert Park Expressway and State Farm Drive. One of the drivers was taken to a hospital and the other was arrested on suspicion of DUI causing injury, police said. The suspect was identified as Santa Rosa resident Isaac Ramos, 20, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.
Sonoma County’s wettest spot got almost 3 inches of rain over the weekend
Parts of Sonoma County have received nearly three inches of rain from a storm that arrived over the weekend, and forecasters say more showers are likely, with a slight chance of thunderstorms Monday. Rain totals as of 8 a.m. Monday included 2.92 inches in Annapolis, 2.66 inches in Cazadero, 1.26 inches in Rohnert Park, 1.02 inches in the town of Sonoma, 0.59 inches in downtown Santa Rosa and 0.32 inches in Petaluma, according to the National Weather Service.
Storm arrives in Sonoma County, quickly surpassing average September rainfall
A storm that arrived overnight in the North Bay had already brought enough rain to Sonoma County by Sunday morning to exceed the average September precipitation level, according to the National Weather Service. By 11 a.m., a rain gauge in downtown Santa Rosa had measured just over a quarter-inch, surpassing the 0.15-inch monthly normal over the past two decades, weather service data show.
Authorites identify pedestrian hit, killed by SUV in Sonoma Valley
The man who was hit and killed by an SUV while standing on the side of a road in the Sonoma Valley early Wednesday has been identified as Querubin Hernandez-Gutierrez, 29, authorities said. Hernandez-Gutierrez, a Napa resident, was identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. He was killed at about 1:22 a.m. on Arnold Drive, just north of Olive Avenue, west of the city of Sonoma, according to the California Highway Patrol.
‘Decent’ amount of rain on the way to Sonoma County, forecasters say. Here’s when,how much
An incoming storm expected to bring rain to the Bay Area as soon as Saturday night could drop enough moisture on the region to temporarily tamp down the probability of large wildfires, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service. In the North Bay, meteorologists are predicting anywhere from a quarter-inch to an inch of rain. The bulk of the precipitation is expected Sunday, but showers could continue through Tuesday, said weather service meteorologist Roger Gas.
‘Decent’ amount of rain on the way to Sonoma County, forecasters say. Here’s when, how much
A storm expected to arrive in the Bay Area as soon as Saturday night could dump enough rain on the region to temporarily tamp down the likelihood of wildfires, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service. In Sonoma County, meteorologists are predicting up to an inch and a half of rain in the wettest locations, which are the high-elevation areas. About an inch of rain is predicted for lower-elevation spots like Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Sonoma.
2.7 magnitude earthquake shakes Sonoma Original
A 2.7-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the North Bay Wednesday afternoon, less than a day after two larger shakers rattled the region. The quake hit at 11:55 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency’s map showed the temblor’s epicenter just east of the town of Sonoma, off Thornsberry Road at the base of Arrowhead Mountain, which straddles the Sonoma and Napa county line. People reported feeling the quake as far away as Healdsburg, according to a USGS survey.
Santa Rosa High School lockdown ends after police deem shooter report false
Santa Rosa High School students were ordered to shelter in place for about 30 minutes Wednesday because of a false report of a shooter on campus, police said. Santa Rosa police determined that the 911 call they got about an active shooter on the Mendocino Avenue campus was a hoax, said Sgt. Chris Mahurin, a department spokesperson. The call came in at 11:18 a.m., he said.
Tuesday aftershock that jolted Santa Rosa stronger than initially thought
The U.S. Geological Survey has upgraded the magnitude of the aftershock that rattled the North Bay seconds after an initial earthquake Tuesday evening. The aftershock was a 4.3-magnitude shaker, according to the USGS, which initially reported the magnitude at 3.9. The aftershock struck at 6:40 p.m., 42 seconds after the initial 4.4-magnitude quake began, according to the USGS. The initial temblor was centered in Santa Rosa city limits, about 2 miles northeast of the city’s center.
Pedestrian killed in Sonoma Valley crash Original
A 28-year-old man was hit by a vehicle and killed early Wednesday while standing on the side of a road in the Sonoma Valley, authorities said. The collision happened at about 1:22 a.m. on Arnold Drive, just north of Olive Avenue, west of the town of Sonoma. The man, a Woodland resident whose name has not been released, was standing beside a tractor stopped in the shoulder of the road when he was hit, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol.
One injured in Rohnert Park trail shooting
Rohnert Park police urged people to avoid a section of the Copeland Creek Trail on Wednesday morning because of a shooting in the area overnight. Gunfire on the trail, followed by yelling, was reported to authorities at about 11 p.m., in the area of the Santa Alicia bridge, police said. Officers went to the area and found somebody “with an injury consistent with being shot,” officials with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said in an advisory.
4 Windsor High students arrested in suspected gang fight at football game
Four Windsor High School students are among the suspects arrested in an investigation into what authorities believe were fights between rival gangs during an Aug. 26 Windsor High School football game. The four students were arrested on campus Aug. 29 and 30, Windsor police said. Authorities did not release their’ names because they are juveniles. Two of the four are teenage boys suspected of assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.
Neighbor helps elderly Santa Rosa woman escape weekend mobile home fire
An elderly Santa Rosa woman whose mobile home caught fire over the weekend escaped the flames with help from a neighbor, fire officials said. The fire ignited at about 3 p.m. Saturday in the kitchen area of the mobile home, which was at a park on Sonoma Highway, according to Santa Rosa firefighters. A neighbor ran to the home and helped the woman inside escape, according to Division Chief Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal.
Calif. Ulta Beauty stores burglarized, suspects lead police on 110 mph pursuit
By Matt Pera The Press Democrat SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. — Two men suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from two Ulta Beauty stores in Sonoma County on Sunday were arrested in Petaluma after leading police on a 110 mph chase, authorities said. It was the second time in less than three weeks that burglaries were reported on the same day at Ulta stores in both cities. The first burglary Sunday happened at the Ulta store on Kenilworth Drive in Petaluma.
Cloverdale police seize $54,000 in suspected meth, over 39,000 doses of suspected fentanyl
Two people who had been sleeping in an SUV in Cloverdale were arrested Sunday morning after police discovered suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine inside the vehicle. Police said they found the drugs after they were called to Asti Road to investigate a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a private driveway, according to a Cloverdale Police Department news release. Responding police officers searched the vehicle after learning the driver was on felony probation.
Rohnert Park police arrest man with machete after 6-mile chase
A 36-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after he led Rohnert Park police on a 6-mile chase, officials said. The incident unfolded at about 2 a.m. Saturday, when police were dispatched to the 900 block of Golf Course Drive on a report of a man sleeping in a business parking lot who brandished a machete at security staff who confronted him, according to Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officials.
Ulta Beauty stores in Sonoma County again hit with burglaries, suspects arrested Original
Two men suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from two Ulta Beauty stores in Sonoma County on Sunday were arrested in Petaluma after leading police on a 110 mph chase, authorities said. It was the second time in less than three weeks that burglaries were reported on the same day at Ulta stores in both cities. The first burglary Sunday happened at the Ulta store on Kenilworth Drive in Petaluma.
Thousands lose power in Sonoma County outages
Thousands of homes and businesses in the Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa and Windsor areas lost power in two major outages Monday morning, according to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. The first outage began at 6:51 a.m. for 6,408 PG&E customers in and around Windsor, according to the utility. Those customers stretched from the intersection of Fulton and River roads just north of Santa Rosa up to Highway 128 east of Healdsburg.
Air quality advisory issued for Bay Area due to California, Oregon wildfire smoke
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory for the Bay Area for Friday because of smoke expected to drift into the region from wildfires in Oregon and elsewhere in California. District officials urged Bay Area residents to stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside. They also recommend setting home and car air conditioning to recirculate to prevent outside air from moving inside.
CA: Unlimited Bay Area transit pass trial begins with Santa Rosa Junior College students
Sep. 6—A new Bay Area pilot program is testing out an unlimited pass to the region's buses, trains and ferries. Under the two-year pilot, which began late last month, the so-called Clipper BayPass has been distributed for free to students at four Bay Area colleges, including Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa. The passes are not available to the general public, but transit managers are using the program to gather data in hopes that they someday might be.
Rohnert Park police warn of catalytic converter thefts
Authorities in Rohnert Park are warning residents to be on the lookout for catalytic converter thefts after a three people got away following an attempt to steal one this week. The attempted theft happened at about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday on San Simeon Drive, according to the Department of Public Safety. Three people tried to steal a catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius, but they were interrupted by a witness.They drove away in a gray Lexus before police arrived, officials said.
Sonoma County firefighters dispatched to Mosquito Fire in Placer County
A group of Sonoma County firefighters was sent to Placer County late Wednesday to join the response to the Mosquito Fire. The team includes five engines staffed by firefighters from Cazadero, Cloverdale, Geyserville, Monte Rio, Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley. The Mosquito Fire ignited Tuesday near Oxbow Reservoir. It is about 30 miles west of Lake Tahoe. Evacuations have been ordered for the community of Foresthill.
Live Heat Watch: Sonoma County temps to ratchet up again Thursday
Temperatures are expected to again surpass 100 degrees Thursday in much of Sonoma County as a historic heat wave continues. The heat has prompted California’s electric grid operator to call for conservation amid extreme demand that could potentially overwork the system. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air alert for Thursday, warning residents about unhealthy levels of smog in the region. It is the sixth day in a row the agency has issued the alert.
Santa Rosa police chief announces plan to crack down on ‘ghost guns’
With homemade firearms known as “ghost guns” increasingly showing up during criminal investigations in Santa Rosa, the city’s police chief is looking for new ways to crack down on them. Chief John Cregan announced Wednesday a proposal to install new surveillance technology around the city to aid police investigations, which he said would in turn boost the number of illegal guns officers confiscate.
Live Heat Watch: Slight cooldown Wednesday after day of historic heat Original
A heat wave that has brought record temperatures to parts of Sonoma County and the Bay Area is set to continue baking the region throughout the week, but meteorologists say the hottest days are behind us. Here’s the latest: 8:30 a.m.: Temperatures dip then rise again in heat wave forecast High temperatures Wednesday afternoon are expected to be a few degrees cooler than Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Unlimited Bay Area transit pass trial begins with Santa Rosa Junior College students
A new Bay Area pilot program is testing out an unlimited pass to the region’s buses, trains and ferries. Under the two-year pilot, which began late last month, the so-called Clipper BayPass has been distributed for free to students at four Bay Area colleges, including Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa. The passes are not available to the general public, but transit managers are using the program to gather data in hopes that they someday might be.
Police: Driver in Santa Rosa crash arrested following discovery of ‘ghost gun’ in car
A 19-year-old driver involved in a crash in Santa Rosa on Sunday was arrested after police found a “ghost gun” and drugs in his vehicle, authorities said. The driver, Julio Linares of Santa Rosa, was evaluated at a hospital before he was booked into the Sonoma County jail following the crash in the 2300 block of Lomitas Avenue, according to a Santa Rosa Police Department bulletin.
Power outage hits 1,160 homes outside Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park
Power went out Tuesday morning for 1,160 homes on the outskirts of Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park as temperatures climbed toward potentially record-setting highs. The outage began at 3:23 a.m., according to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. It spanned from the eastern outskirts of Rohnert Park up to the southeastern edge of Santa Rosa and Trione-Annadel State Park. The anticipated restoration time was 12:30 p.m., according to PG&Eās outage map.
Live Heat Watch: Santa Rosa hits hottest temperature on record, at 115 degrees, as county scorched by heat
1:15 p.m. Climate scientist weighs in During an hourlong briefing on the prolonged heat wave Tuesday, West Coast climate scientist Daniel Swain marveled at temperatures that already were several degrees ahead of where they had been a day earlier, laying the stage for a second day of historic highs and even more sweltering conditions that pose a risk to human health and to the state’s strained energy grid.
Santa Rosa man dies in head-on Sonoma Valley crash
A man driving on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley died in a head-on crash Monday after another driver drifted onto the wrong side of the road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Authorities have not released the man’s name. CHP officials described him as a 64-year-old Santa Rosa resident. The crash happened at 2:34 p.m. just east of Nuns Canyon Road, between Glen Ellen and Kenwood.
Santa Rosa man dies in head-on Sonoma Valley crash
A man driving on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley died in a head-on crash Monday after another driver drifted onto the wrong side of the road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Authorities have not released the man’s name. CHP officials described him as a 64-year-old Santa Rosa resident. The crash happened at 2:34 p.m. just east of Nuns Canyon Road, between Glen Ellen and Kenwood.
What caused Wednesday’s outage that knocked out power to the entire city of Healdsburg?
A transmission line failure that zapped power Wednesday for thousands of homes and businesses in northern Sonoma County was caused by a broken utility pole, according to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. The outage began just after noon, stretching from Healdsburg to Cloverdale. The broken pole was leaning across a roadway in the area of River and Palomino roads near Cloverdale, according to California Highway Patrol Officer David deRutte.
Authorities identify Petaluma woman whose daughter lived with her dead body for over a year
The woman whose body was found last week inside her Petaluma home, where investigators believe it had been decomposing for over a year while her daughter continued to live there, has been identified as Birgit Almgren, 80, authorities said Thursday. Petaluma police discovered Almgren’s body on a couch in her living room after they were called to her home in the 200 block of Windsor Drive for a wellness check the morning of Aug. 23.
Authorities identify Petaluma woman whose daughter lived with her dead body for over a year
The woman whose body was found last week inside her Petaluma home, where investigators believe it had been decomposing for over a year while her daughter continued to live there, has been identified as Birgit Almgren, 80, authorities said Thursday. Almgren was identified after an autopsy by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Coroner Unit. The cause of death won’t be released for “a few weeks,” pending the completion of a report from a pathologist, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said.
Police: Graffiti report at historic Santa Rosa barn leads to 4 arrests, including 2 teens
A report of suspected vandalism at a historic barn in Santa Rosa early Thursday led to the arrest of four people, including two minors, in connection with a “ghost gun” and another firearm that had its serial number partially filed off, police said. The incident unfolded just before 12:30 a.m., when police got a report of three people associated with a Dodge pickup truck possibly “tagging” the DeTurk Round Barn on Donahue Street, according to a Santa Rosa Police Department bulletin.
Driver shot at in Windsor, suspect arrested
A man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting at a driver in Windsor over the weekend, authorities said. The gunfire happened Saturday in the 900 block of Gemini Drive and was reported to authorities at 11:57 p.m., according to a Windsor Police Department news release. The person who was shot at was not injured and knew the suspected gunman, police said. The suspect was identified as Gabriel Ruben Torres, 39, of Windsor, a convicted felon. Police got a warrant and searched Torres’ home.
Healdsburg reports citywide power outage
A transmission line failure caused a power outage across Healdsburg on Wednesday, according to city officials. The entire city was experiencing a blackout, according to a Nixle alert sent by city officials at about 12:40 p.m. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. staff was working to fix the problem and power was expected to be restored at about 4:30 p.m., according to the alert.
Mendocino County man suspected of fatally shooting 3 of sibling’s dogs
A Mendocino County man has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting three dogs on his sibling’s property, authorities said. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Dos Rios property where the dogs were found dead on Aug. 25, according to a news release Tuesday from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Mendocino County man arrested in fatal Fort Bragg shooting
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting earlier this month in Fort Bragg, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said this week. The suspect, Shayne Wrede, 37, of Fort Bragg, was taken into custody Thursday in Sacramento after he was tracked by federal marshals and a SWAT team, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday.
Low-flying PG&E helicopters to survey power lines in Sonoma, Napa counties
Residents in parts of Sonoma and Napa counties should expect to hear the rumble of low-flying helicopters over the next month as PG&E workers survey power lines, according to the utility. The surveys will run through September in areas at high risk for wildfires, according to a PG&E announcement. The two helicopters used for the surveys will fly low, from 200 to 500 feet, on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to PG&E.
Evacuation drill set for Wednesday in Rohnert Park, Cotati
Sirens will blare across Cotati and Rohnert Park on Wednesday afternoon, but residents won’t need to evacuate. Authorities in both cities, plus public safety officials with Sonoma State University, have scheduled an evacuation drill for 4 p.m. They will run “hi-lo” sirens, which are used by all Sonoma County law enforcement agencies to signal the need to evacuate.
Sonoma County man arrested after 5-hour standoff with authorities
A Sonoma County man was arrested Sunday with the help of a SWAT team after he threatened a man with a knife and then barricaded himself inside his home for more than nine hours, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. Raymond Wilson, 38, was booked into the Sonoma County jail, where he remained held without bail Monday. He is suspected of assault with a deadly weapon, displaying a deadly weapon, making threats, resisting arrest and battery on a peace officer.
Air quality advisory extended for Bay Area due to Oregon wildfire smoke Original
An air quality advisory for the Bay Area was extended through Monday because of Oregon wildfire smoke drifting over the region, officials said. The smoke is coming from the Rum Creek Fire in southwest Oregon, according to the advisory first issued Sunday from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Skies will look hazy and the smell of smoke is expected to be present, the advisory said.
Santa Rosa police arrest teen in ‘ghost gun’ discovery
A traffic stop Sunday in Santa Rosa led to the discovery of a loaded “ghost gun” and the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect police connected with the firearm, police said. During the traffic stop, which happened at about 8 p.m., an officer learned that the three people inside the vehicle had marijuana vaporizers, according to an announcement from the Santa Rosa Police Department. The driver and one of the passengers were 17 years old and the second passenger was 18, police said.
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