Kenwood mother killed in Highway 12 accident
A 44-year-old Kenwood woman was killed the night of July 17 when the car in which she was driving was struck by an out-of-control automobile on Highway 12 near Oakmont. Jane Beverly Todd was sitting in the front passenger seat of a 2005 Honda Civic being driven by her 16-year-old son, Doug Todd. The Honda was westbound when it was hit by a Volvo S70 heading east around 9:50 p.m. near Oakmont Drive. Chelsea Tedeschi, 21, also of Kenwood, was witnessed driving erratically at an excessive rate of speed when she lost control of her vehicle and swerved into the westbound lane, colliding with the Honda. According to the California Highway Patrol, emergency fire personnel arrived and pronounced Todd dead on the scene. Doug Todd sustained minor to moderate injuries and Tedeschi suffered major injuries. Both were transported for treatment to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where Tedeschi showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for felony vehicular manslaughter.
Sonoma’s city
manager to retire
Mike Fuson, who has served since 2001 as Sonoma’s city manager, plans to retire on Dec. 30.
Fuson, 63, spent 38 years in local government starting as an administrative analyst in Washington state’s King County, which is home to Seattle. He also served as the city manager of Pismo Beach and of Sausalito.
Fuson plans to stay in Sonoma following his retirement.
“I live in town and I’m not planning on moving anytime soon. It’s a great place to be,” he said.
Council will work with an executive search firm to find Fuson’s replacement.
Chuck Yeager coming for Indy Race
Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier, has been named Grand Marshal of the Motorola Indy 300 event weekend at Infineon Raceway, Aug. 24-26.
Yeager, recognized as the most famous test pilot of all time, will be honored throughout the weekend, including at the third annual Grand Marshal’s Banquet on Saturday night, Aug. 25, at the Jacuzzi Winery in Sonoma. All proceeds from the gala will benefit the Valley of the Moon Teen Center and Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma through Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway.
“My foundation, the General Chuck Yeager Foundation, supports programs that promote integrity, duty, service, excellence and intellectual curiosity especially aimed at kids, so this is a good fit for us,” said Yeager.
In addition to his accomplishments as a test pilot, Yeager has also been recognized for his accomplishments during World War II. Yeager was shot down over occupied France during the war, but successfully evaded capture and crossed into neutral Spain before returning to his squadron in England. He flew 64 combat missions in World War II. By war’s end he had downed 13 enemy aircraft, including five in a single day.
After the war, Yeager continued to break speed records, including setting a new air speed record of 1,650 mph, more than twice the speed of sound, in 1953.
He also served in Vietnam, and helped train the first generation of U.S. astronauts. In 1976, Yeager was awarded a Special Congressional Silver Medal, presented to him by President Gerald Ford. President Ronald Reagan honored him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985.
“This is a weekend when we celebrate the heroes of American speed and who better to serve as Grand Marshal than the man who embodies those themes at the ultimate level,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway.
