In Your Town for Dec. 11, 2024

MILL VALLEY

Tam High emptied
after bomb threat

A bomb threat targeting Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley prompted authorities to clear the campus on Tuesday.

The school received the threat at 10:49 a.m. and evacuated the students to a “reunification center” at the Mill Valley Community Center, said Linn Walsh, a city official. The school has about 1,500 students.

The city also transmitted an alert telling residents within a two-block radius of the campus to stay in their homes.

Students were dismissed for the day, said Tara Taupier, superintendent of the Tamalpais Union High School District.

The Mill Valley Police Department organized a search of the campus and “issued the all clear” in the afternoon, Walsh said. Police are investigating the source of the threat.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Raw milk linked
to bird flu probe

A child with a potential bird flu infection had consumed raw milk before becoming ill, Marin County health officials reported Tuesday.

The county is still waiting for test results to confirm whether the child had avian flu or seasonal flu, said Dr. Lisa Santora, the county’s public health officer. But the avian flu has passed from birds to cows, and health officials are warning the public to avoid unpasteurized milk.

“Bird flu infections in humans are uncommon but there are ongoing outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry farms in the United States,” Santora said. “The risk to the public remains low, as bird flu spread from person to person is rare.”

The child who drank raw milk fell ill while visiting Marin during the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the county. The child suffered fever and vomiting.

Initial state and local tests for bird flu were inconclusive, and the county is waiting for results from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The child has recovered, and no other family members became sick, indicating no person-to person transmission,” the Marin public health office said in a statement Tuesday. “There have been 32 confirmed cases of bird flu reported in California this year. Most bird flu detections in the U.S. have been in poultry and dairy workers who were exposed to sick animals, but sporadic cases are expected.”

MILL VALLEY

Suspect booked on
firearms allegations

A San Rafael man was arrested in Strawberry on Tuesday after deputies found firearms, a large ammunition supply and suspected narcotics in his vehicle, the sheriff’s office reported.

Deputies saw the vehicle parked on the Redwood Highway Frontage Road at about 1 a.m. A woman in the vehicle appeared to be consuming drugs, and her boyfriend came from a nearby store, said sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn.

Deputies found an AR-15-style rifle and a loaded handgun as well as several magazines in the vehicle, Schermerhorn said. They also found a large amount of jewelry and are investigating whether it was stolen.

Anthony Joseph Rasella, 23, was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon having a concealed weapon in a vehicle and possessing a controlled substance. His bail amount was set at $20,000.

Deputies cited the woman, Sophia Calder, 23, on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia and released her pending a court date. She could not be reached for comment.

CRIME

Alleged thief accused
of targeting Targets

Marin County sheriff’s deputies arrested a San Francisco man who allegedly stole $2,500 worth of merchandise from two Target stores.

The suspect stole about $800 worth of goods from the Marin City store and nearly $1,700 in merchandise from the San Rafael store on Monday, sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn reported. Deputies arrested the man after finding his vehicle parked outside the San Rafael store.

Joe Lorenzo Jenkins, 38, was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of burglary and possessing pepper spray. He remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $50,000 bail.

GREENBRAE

Fire damages site
in commercial area

Firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze at a commercial building at 27 Industrial Way.

The fire was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Monday. Crews brought the fire under control within an hour, said Battalion Chief Nick Gabbard of the Central Marin Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

San Rafael, Southern Marin and Ross Valley firefighters provided assistance.