Rewind the tape: Year in Review 2018 — Part One
2018 was certainly a busy year for us news gatherers and writers at the Tribune with fire anniversaries, business buyouts and the rise of opioid use in Sonoma County, hotel limits and plenty of newsmakers around town, from avid readers to new councilmembers.
CHP to launch maximum enforcement period of patrol for New Year’s
After 40 people died on California roadways last year during New Year’s, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reminding motorists to drive safe and sober this holiday by increasing enforcement and launching a maximum enforcement period (MEP) on roadways from Dec. 28, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2019.
Donald Lamarion Spence, 1962-2018
He went by a single name, “Spence,” and was equally singular in his focus on community and a very large circle of friends in his adopted hometown of Healdsburg. His full name was Donald Lamarion Spence and he died Dec. 13 after a long fight against lung cancer. He was 56. A large portion of his circle of friends held a candlelight memorial in the city’s Plaza last Friday, Dec. 14.
Published author visits St. John the Baptist Catholic School
On Friday, Dec. 14, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, presented her books “Riders of the Realm” and “The Guardian Herd” to the students of St. John the Baptist Catholic School. Everyone was excited to hear her speak about how she became an author and where the ideas for her characters originated. A number of the students felt inspired to write their own story after listening to her presentation. Most significantly, she reminded students how fun and important it is to read.
New rules for the road approved in 2018
A statement from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) released Dec. 17, details some new laws affecting motorist starting in 2019. “New laws approved by the California legislature in 2018 will affect roadway safety in several ways, including helmet use on bicycles and motorized scooters, hit-and-run on bicycle paths, modified exhaust systems and enhanced safety for refuse collection vehicles,” said the statement. “To support its mission of providing the highest levels of safety, service and security, the CHP is highlighting several of these new laws.”
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approves creation of affordable homes
In a significant step towards addressing Sonoma County’s housing crisis, the board of supervisors approved a series of actions that will result in the creation of 618 new units of affordable housing over the next three years.
City operations and facilities to move to 100 percent renewable energy
Healdsburg becomes second city in county to implement green energy usage
