Watsonville City Council split over redistricting plan
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at a special meeting on Jan. 20 narrowly advanced a new district map that would largely stick to the status quo, but make a significant change between the 2nd and 6th districts.
The map, dubbed the Rivera Plan, would move areas...
First new candidate for November’s local elections comes forth
WATSONVILLE—The first new candidate for one of several Watsonville City Council seats that will be up for grabs in this year’s general election has stepped forth.
Kristal Salcido, an assistant district attorney for Santa Cruz County, announced on Jan. 21 that she will run for...
Big rig driver arrested following reported hit-and-run, highway pursuit
MOSS LANDING—A big rig driver was arrested Thursday night after leading officers on a multi-county chase down Highway 1, following a hit-and-run collision in Santa Cruz.
Alyssa Gutierrez of the California Highway Patrol said Santa Cruz police initially tried to pull over a white tractor-trailer...
Councilman Estrada says he won’t seek reelection
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Francisco “Paco” Estrada during Thursday night’s special meeting announced that he will not seek reelection this fall.
Estrada, the representative for the 4th District, was elected into office in 2018 and served as mayor in his first year on the city council....
Judy Doering Nielsen, a former Mayor and prolific volunteer, dies
WATSONVILLE—Judy Doering Nielsen’s love for the Watsonville community led her to become thoroughly entrenched in its inner workings, from its history to its politics to its people.
She served as Watsonville Mayor and President of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA), in addition to a...
County park will honor late Sheriff’s deputy
APTOS—Plans were announced Thursday of a major renovation of Willowbrook County Park to honor the late Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was gunned down in the line of duty in 2020.
The project of “reimagining” the park was announced in a brief...
PVUSD sets stage for WHS stadium improvements
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a contract for the design phase of a project that will eventually refurbish Watsonville High School’s aging sports facility.
The $240,000 contract with Campbell-based Sugimura Finney Architects—and the estimated $2 million for the...
County’s Main Jail reports Covid-19 surge
SANTA CRUZ—A total of 55 inmates and seven guards at Santa Cruz County Main Jail have tested positive for Covid-19, Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn announced Thursday.
None of the cases have resulted in serious illness or hospitalizations, and a majority are asymptomatic or are experiencing...
Anonymous donor gifts rescue horse to CASA Santa Cruz
AROMAS—In June of 2020, a horse named Rooster arrived at The BackStretch, a nonprofit ranch in Aromas that aims to provide a haven for abandoned, abused and neglected horses.
The 16-year-old Quarter Horse had finally found his “forever home” after years of being a workhorse,...
Monterey County Sheriff: ‘Bomb’ was lost computer
A suspicious bag left leaning against a California Highway Patrol vehicle in Prunedale Monday—which prompted a response from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad...
