The Santa Rosa Press Democrat

BY BOB NORBERG THE PRESS DEMOCRAT The top official of the Sonoma County Water Agency, Randy Poole, has announced his plans to retire at the end of February. Full Story »

A Reno judge has denied a defense motion to prohibit use of DNA evidence at the trial of a man accused of killing a young Reno woman and raping two others. Full Story »

By RANDI ROSSMANN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A woman cut free from her wrecked car Monday night after smashing into an oak tree on Bennett Valley Road was arrested, suspected of driving drunk, reported the CHP. Pamela Bushling, 31, of Santa Rosa remained hospitalized Tuesday. Full Story »

By RANDI ROSSMANN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A dump truck smashed into a Windsor light pole early Tuesday injuring at least one person and creating a small hazardous materials spill, a Windsor fire official reported. The 6:15 a.m. crash was in northwest Windsor at the corner of Starr Road and Entrada Lane. Full Story »

By ROBERT DIGITALE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT The asking price: $49 million for the home owned by the former 49er quarterback. The Tuscan-styled estate, set on more than 500 acres outside Calistoga, could be the most expensive home ever sold in Sonoma County. Full Story »

By CLARK MASON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Tobacco smokers at Santa Rosa Junior College are becoming increasingly marginalized - literally - with a strict new policy that has pushed them past the edges of the campus. Full Story »

By JEREMY HAY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Among the thousands of homeless people in Sonoma County is a small battalion of U.S. military veterans who lay down at night under bridges and in cars, on friends' couches and in crowded shelters. Full Story »

By LORI A. CARTER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT After months of discord and accusations of political maneuvering, the Petaluma City Council’s recent vote to merge two planning boards into one — removing all but three of the 12 sitting members — appeared to put an end to the controversy. Full Story »

By PAUL PAYNE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A forensic pathologist testified Monday that most of the 68 stab wounds found on Patricia Barrales’ body were inflicted before she died and just two of them appeared to be lethal. Full Story »

By LORI A. CARTER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT The annual Petaluma’s Veterans Day Parade will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday and wind its way through downtown Petaluma with 120 entries. Also, in conjunction with other Veterans Day events, the Petaluma Historical Museum opens “Schindler: The Exhibition,” in its exclusive Northern California display. Full Story »

By BOB NORBERG THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Expectations of a poor commercial crab season are being reinforced by Bodega Bay sport fishermen who are finding plenty of crab but ones just too small to be legal for professional fishermen. Full Story »

By BLEYS W. ROSE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Construction of hiking trails into Sonoma's Montini Ranch will start next year, despite the objections of some of area residents who fear an increase in traffic and aren't happy about a trailhead in their backyards. Full Story »

By LORI A. CARTER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT In the past 13 years, volunteers have helped more than 400 homeowners with projects from replacing toilets and water heaters to replacing rotted-out floors and updating entire plumbing or electrical systems. Full Story »

By RANDI ROSSMANN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A bicyclist severely injured when he crashed into a tree on Fountaingrove Parkway remained hospitalized Monday in critical condition, according to Santa Rosa police. Jeffrey Clark, 49, of Santa Rosa was injured at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday as he rode down the west side of the steep hill near Round Barn Boulevard. Full Story »

By RANDI ROSSMANN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Fire destroyed a longtime Ukiah business Sunday and investigators Monday continued to look into what started the two-alarm blaze that caused $700,000 in damage. Full Story »

By RANDI ROSSMANN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Undercover Sebastopol police officers working Saturday at the annual Harvest Dance and Celebration arrested a man who offered to sell them marijuana, police reported. Chet Alan Jenkins, 39, of Santa Rosa allegedly was selling marijuana, concentrated cannabis and marijuana-laced food, reported police. Full Story »

By CLARK MASON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT $250,000 Logvy Park monument to those who served country will be dedicated Wednesday Full Story »

By RANDI ROSSMANN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A gang member remained in custody Monday in Sonoma County Jail after Petaluma police reported finding him with a loaded handgun, ammunition and marijuana, police reported. Full Story »

By GLENDA ANDERSON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Fungi lovers from all over have come to Mendocino County for the 10-day Wine & Mushroom Fest. Fall marks the beginning of the wet, rainy season that nurtures fungi in dank places throughout the North Coast. Full Story »

By CHRIS SMITH THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Cats and books rate high among Sally Watson’s fascinations. That becomes clear after even two minutes in her home near Santa Rosa’s Franklin Park, a cottage replete with book-filled shelves and feline personalities. Full Story »

By MARY CALLAHAN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT The Bay Area Air Quality District is going on the offensive to ensure people abide by the year-old ban on burning solid fuels during bad air days. Residents can now receive restriction notices by phone or online. Full Story »

By BLEYS W. ROSE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A $4 million purchase of an office building next to the sprawling Sonoma County government and state courts complex in Santa Rosa highlights officials’ long-range plans for using every bit of 500 acres of county-owned property. Full Story »

By MARTIN ESPINOZA THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Before sheriffs were dusty gunslingers in the Wild West, they were known as “shire reeves,” royal officials in medieval England charged with keeping the peace. Full Story »

By LORI A. CARTER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Petaluma City Councilman David Glass will seek the city's mayoral seat now that Mayor Pam Torliatt is running for the Sonoma County board of supervisors. Full Story »

By CLARK MASON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Shiloh Sustainable Village, proposed as a model of environmentally friendly construction on Windsor’s southern periphery, has suffered a severe setback, the victim of financial problems. Lenders took back the six-acre property two weeks ago from the developers, who were unable to secure financing to build the $50 million project. Full Story »