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County of Sonoma - News and Press Releases

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October 07, 2019 | Permit Sonoma

Fire Prevention Week Reminds Households to Plan Ahead

Permit Sonoma’s Fire PreventionDivision invites the public to celebrate FirePrevention Week, October 6-12, 2019. The National Fire ProtectionAssociation’s (NFPA) theme for the week “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Planand Practice Your Escape!” reminds the community to take action bydeveloping and practicing a home fire escape plan. Read full story


October 07, 2019 | County Administrator's Office

County, City to Hold Observances of Two-Year Anniversary of Wildfires

The County of Sonoma and City of Santa Rosa invite communitymembers to gather to observe the two-year anniversary of the Sonoma ComplexFires at a brief ceremony at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 inCourthouse Square in Downtown Santa Rosa. Read full story


October 07, 2019 | County Administrator's Office

County of Sonoma and City of Santa RosaPreparing to Respond to a Potential PG&E Power Shutoff

The County of Sonoma and City of Santa Rosa are preparing to respond to the impacts of a possible PG&E Power Shutoff. PG&E informed County and City officials that Sonoma County is under a “Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch,” and current weather conditions may lead to a de-energization event within the next 36 to 48 hours. Read full story


October 03, 2019 | Office of the District Attorney

Child Rapist Receives 31-Year Sentence

Defendant Alejandro Tapia Garcia, 35 years old of SantaRosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Peter Ottenweller to thirty-oneyears in state prison following his convictions in August of this year tocharges of forcible rape of a child under the age of 14, and two counts ofcommitting a forcible lewd or lascivious act upon a child younger than14. Read full story


September 27, 2019 | Permit Sonoma

Permit Sonoma Honored with Innovative Code Enforcement Award

The California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) announced that they will be awarding their 2019 Innovative Program Award to Permit Sonoma’s Code Enforcement Division. This award recognizes code enforcement programs that are both innovative and effective. Read full story


September 27, 2019 | County Administrator's Office

County Awarded Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funds

Sonoma County was recently awarded $586,739 in HazardMitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding from the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA), to support projects that mitigate seismic and wildfire hazardsthroughout the County. The awards come after an extensive application andreview period that followed the Sonoma Complex Fires. Read full story


September 27, 2019 | Office of Recovery and Resiliency

Continued Risk of Flooding and Mud, Debris Flows from 2017 Wildfires

The City of Santa Rosa and the County of Sonoma continue to encourage residents living in and around the areas burned by the Sonoma Complex Fires to prepare their property for the rainy season and remain alert for possible threats from intense winter storms. Read full story


September 26, 2019 | Office of the District Attorney

Husband, Wife, and their Son Sentenced for2017 Porter Creek Road Murder

DefendantsRene Espinoza Jr., 22-years-old, Maria Guadalupe Torres, 42 years old, and ReneEspinoza Martinez, 42 years old, all of Clearlake, were each sentenced earliertoday by the Honorable Bradford DeMeo to a life-term in prison following theirJuly convictions for the 2017 murder of Antonio Botello Arreola. Read full story


September 26, 2019 | Office of the District Attorney

Petaluma Man Sentenced to a Life Term inPrison for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

51-year oldFilemon Hernandez, of Petaluma, CA was sentenced to prison for a term of 24years to life, for numerous sexual assault crimes involving a child under theage of 14. Read full story


September 25, 2019 | County Administrator's Office

Debris Insurance Collection from 2017 Fires Begins

Many Sonoma County property owners utilized the Government-Sponsored Debris Removal Program (Program) to clear debris after the devastating Sonoma Complex Fires. The Program was administered and paid for by FEMA and Cal OES. Read full story