Staff Writer

Isabel Beer

Isabel Beer is a reporter for the Sonoma Index-Tribune. She covers a wide variety of issues in Sonoma Valley, including fire, public safety, breaking news, community issues, local business and more. She began this position in 2024 and, before that, covered education and city government in New York City for amNew York Metro and the Brooklyn Paper. She is an alumna of Humboldt State University and of the NYU Graduate School of Journalism. She was born and raised in the East Bay Area.

Sebastopol police assisted North Bay Animal Services with a horse rescue early Wednesday morning after the animal was found wandering near the roadway in the area of Bodega Avenue and Pleasant Hill Road during a winter storm. Officer Josiah Wotillo assisted with containing the animal until it was safely removed from the area.(Image courtesy of North Bay Animal Services/Facebook)

Horse found roaming roadway in Sebastopol during storm

December 26, 2025 at 5:52 a.m.

A loose horse was safely contained and removed from a Sebastopol roadway early Wednesday morning during a major winter storm impacting Sonoma County, authorities said.

Santa Rosa firefighters rescued a driver who drove about 200 feet off an embankment in Fountaingrove sometime after 2 a.m. Tuesday morning. First responders conducted a low-angle rescue with ropes and a specialized basket to rescue the driver who was eventually transported to a local hospital. (Image courtesy of Santa Rosa Firefighters/Instagram)

Driver rescued after vehicle plunges 200 feet down North Bay embankment

December 24, 2025 at 9:44 a.m.

A driver was rescued early Tuesday after a vehicle crashed down an embankment in Santa Rosa’s Fountaingrove area, fire officials said.

The Santa Rosa Police Department arrested a woman Dec. 23 after intercepting a mail package sent from Peru that allegedly contained illegal narcotics and hallucinogens. (Image courtesy of the Santa Rosa Police Department.)

Illegal drugs shipped from Peru disguised as teas and herbal powders, Bay Area police say

December 24, 2025 at 10:56 a.m.

Police arrested a 47-year-old woman after intercepting a package containing multiple illegal narcotics shipped from Peru to a Santa Rosa residence, authorities said.

A cove at MacKerricher State Park, three miles north of Fort Bragg near the town of Cleon, Thursday, Sept.1, 2011. On Dec. 22, an elderly woman was killed after being swept into the ocean by a wave. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat file)

Woman dies after being swept into ocean at Mendocino County beach

December 24, 2025 at 4:14 a.m.

An elderly woman died Monday after being swept into the ocean by a large wave at MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg in Mendocino County, authorities said.

Tania Soderman, owner of Sonoma Chicks Rescue and Sanctuary, with a copper maran dumped rooster Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)

‘We’re at capacity’: Sonoma bird rescues still overwhelmed with rooster crisis

October 18, 2025 at 3:51 p.m.

After an influx of unwanted roosters and birds this summer, local rescues say the problem has only worsened and funding hasn't kept pace.

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