News

It’s been almost two years since a motorist hit and seriously injured a student in a crosswalk on N. State Street as she made her way to school. A crossing guard controlled the crosswalk, which was clearly marked as a school zone, and other cars had stopped to allow students to cross. Tragically, one driver did not... (Read more →)

The Thin Gold Line

The Thin Gold Line Regardless of your emergency—whether it’s a crime in progress, a medical crisis, or a fire threatening your home, the first person who answers your call for help is a dispatcher. Even though dispatchers can't see what’s happening, they serve as the eyes and ears of our first... (Read more →)

In A Crisis

I recently received a call from a teacher asking about a refresher course on what to do in case of a school shooting. While a school or workplace shooting is not necessarily a topic you’d expect to worry about in a small, quiet town like Ukiah, the fact remains that these horrific events don’t just happen in... (Read more →)

Eat Your Veggies!

I can’t begin to count the number of times I remember my mother telling me to eat my vegetables. “They’re good for you,” she’d say. Boy, was she right. Veggies are not only good for us, vegetables help us reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer. Now I’m the one saying, “Eat your... (Read more →)

Cyberbullying

"Cyberbullying" occurs when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones, according to stopcyberbullying.org. In last week’s column, I shared... (Read more →)

Closer Than We Think

If you’d met Caitlyn Haynes, you’d have thought she was a typical high school senior. Blonde and beautiful, Cait (as her friends and family called her) had an amazing smile and a bright future. Cait was into everything: sports, horses, puppies and kittens, 4-wheeling, running track at school, boating,... (Read more →)

Senseless Acts

On February 20, Officer Keith Boyer of the Whittier Police Department in Southern California was tragically shot and killed, allegedly by convicted felon Michael Mejia. According to news reports, Mejia murdered his cousin and then stole the dead man’s car to flee the murder scene. This is the car Mejia was driving... (Read more →)

Today’s Your Day

Last week, I wrote about an event called Read Across America, which takes place tomorrow, March 2. If you missed that column, Read Across America is a day to celebrate the joy of reading. It commemorates the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, an author famous for making reading fun. He... (Read more →)

Grab Your Hat!

It’s time to grab your red-and-white striped hat and pick out your favorite children’s book, because National Read Across America Day is right around the corner! I couldn’t be more excited to tell you about this fantastic day because, as I might have mentioned once or twice, I absolutely love to read. On... (Read more →)

Are Our Phones Really That Smart?

It seems like our smartphones can do everything. They store and play our favorite music, tell us how to get just about anywhere, and keep us connected with our friends on social media. Our phones even allow us to pay for merchandise at the store, alert us when we use our credit cards, keep us up-to-date with the... (Read more →)

Here Comes the Sun!

I can’t wait for spring. Thankfully, it’s only a few weeks away, because after this past rainy season I’m ready for some sunshine, fresh air, and warm weather. As the weather begins to change, I hope everyone gets a chance to go outside and soak in a little sunshine, maybe even take a walk. Did you know that... (Read more →)

Kids in Fast Cars…

Did you know that teenagers are three times more likely to get into a motor vehicle accident than older drivers? I know when teens get their driver’s licenses it can mean freedom for both them and their parents. Teens can finally go wherever they’d like whenever they’d like, without depending on mom and dad... (Read more →)