57.5 F
Watsonville
May 9, 2025

Evictions loom for 14 Pajaro families

pajaro apartment complex residents
In the middle of the holiday season, 14 families that live on 29 San Juan Road in Pajaro must find somewhere new to live in one of the country’s most expensive rental markets. On a rainy day in November, the concerned faces of adults are...

Longtime Watsonville officer bids farewell

henry robles watsonville police retire
WATSONVILLE—After 33 years of service behind badge number 251, Watsonville Police Sgt. Henry Robles put in his final shift last week.  The San Diego native was surrounded by a swarm of officers, city officials, friends and family in the Squad Room for a farewell sendoff...

Evacuated Pajaro residents search for answers

pajaro flood
Will Norman stands in front of his home on Drew Lane wearing knee-high waders, up to his ankles in floodwaters that have inundated his neighborhood since a series of storms in January caused Corralitos Creek to spill over. The recent storm on March 11 caused...

Fire damages St. Patrick’s Parish

st patrick's catholic parish church arson
WATSONVILLE—A fire that severely damaged St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish on Oct. 17 was arson, Watsonville Police Department confirmed Tuesday. Church officials say they have video footage of the arson occurring. It was not clear Tuesday afternoon if there is any suspect information. Pastor Jason Simas said in...

UPDATE: Highway 17 reopens after snow closure

highway 17 snow
UPDATE 3:20PM: Caltrans reported all northbound lanes of Highway 17 in both Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties have reopened. Southbound Highway 17 south of Summit Road is fully opened. Currently only one lane of southbound Highway 17 north of Summit Road is open. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Early...

Volunteer-led sandbag effort continues

WATSONVILLE—As the next major rainstorm rolls in, the City of Watsonville and local nonprofits are heading up a major effort to provide sandbags for local residents in flood-prone areas. Scores of city staff and volunteers from Community Bridges, the Community Action Board, the California Conservation...

‘Reunification’ therapy sparks call for change among teens

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A Pacific Collegiate School student and her friends are fighting for changes in the law after their friend and her brother were violently removed from their grandmother’s Santa Cruz home in October and taken to an undisclosed site to undergo court-ordered family...

Santa Cruz County Supervisors approve budget, brace for impending recession

santa cruz county seal logo
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved the $1.1 billion proposed budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, including a $731 million General Fund. While the county’s financial outlook takes into account slowing revenue growth, it funds community priorities such as the...

PHOTOS: Big rig flips over on Highway 152

highway 152 hecker pass big rig flip
A big rig loaded with office supplies flipped over on a tight turn on Highway 152 (Hecker Pass) Thursday afternoon, dumping its load down a steep ravine. The California Highway Patrol said there were only minor injuries in the 3:15pm incident that forced them...
7,696FansLike
4,941FollowersFollow
2,895FollowersFollow

Countywide history fair set for Watsonville

In the late 1800s, Claus Spreckels ran a mill that processed locally grown sugar beets, a thriving industry that is generally credited with seeing...