News

For 68 years, volunteers for the Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort have provided needy families with food and gifts to celebrate Christmas. From turkey dinners to a few special gifts for each child, the Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort’s goal is to serve as many local families as possible. Thanks to generous donations... (Read more →)

Halloween Safety 2016

In last week’s column I shared ideas about how to choose (or make) safe Halloween costumes. This week, I’m sharing tips to keep you and your trick-or-treaters safe on Halloween. As you can imagine, Halloween is not Ukiah Police Department’s (UPD’s) favorite holiday. It tends to bring out the darker side of... (Read more →)

Halloween Is Coming

I’m sure you will understand when I tell you that Halloween just isn’t the Ukiah Police Department’s favorite holiday. In fact, it can be downright scary for our police officers and dispatchers! Halloween brings out the darker side of some people, and it is this dark side that requires everyone in law... (Read more →)

Stopping Gangs

Anyone who knows a pre-teen or young teenager recognizes that these years are an extremely impressionable time. Young people want to fit in with their peers and as a result, they can make choices that follow them for the rest of their school years and even into adulthood. Young people who excel at academics, are... (Read more →)

Let’s Go, Wildcats!

There are so many things to be proud of about Ukiah: our small town character, our great community members, and the beautiful setting where our town is located. I have to say, one of my most favorite parts of our community is our high school and the pride our students demonstrate each year during homecoming. I... (Read more →)

Walktober – Small Steps, Big Changes

A recent Harvard health publication said aerobic exercise is a fantastic way to boost our brain’s ability to learn and remember. In fact, aerobic exercise—getting your heart and sweat glands pumping—is significantly more important for brain health than other types of training, like weight lifting or... (Read more →)

Student Safety Update

A few weeks ago, a stranger approached two female students walking home from Frank Zeek Elementary School. The suspect, a male in a white pick-up truck, made inappropriate sexual comments to the young girls and the girls quickly ran from the scene. This situation is similar to three incidents that happened in our... (Read more →)

Free Money – NOT!

The other day I received an unsolicited phone call promising me free money. Imagine that: a nice prize just waiting for me to claim it. The caller excitedly explained that if I could provide just a few personal details to confirm my identity, the thousands of dollars would be mine! I have written about these... (Read more →)

Bully Proofing Our Kids

We did it! We made it through the summer, took a vacation, and got the kids back in school. Finally, life is starting to return to normal. But watch out! It is during this time of year that some kids would rather be anywhere than school, because going back to school means they might be bullied or picked on. Some... (Read more →)

Stranger Danger - Update

Last school year, a number female students in their early teens were approached by strangers or assaulted on their way to and from school. In each situation, the teens fought back and got away. Working with the Ukiah Unified School District (UUSD), we immediately issued press releases and posted information on... (Read more →)

Back to School 2016

Back to School – Safe Travels and a New School Resource Officer School starts next week and I can’t think of a better time to remind everyone of bike and pedestrian safety than the beginning of a new school year. During the last few years, our community has experienced the unthinkable more than... (Read more →)

Ukiah Reads 2016

Ukiah Reads In just a few short weeks our kids will be returning to school, and I can’t think of a better time to remind everyone about the Ukiah Unified School District’s (UUSD) summer program: Ukiah Reads. Experts say children who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who do not often... (Read more →)