Two reportedly stolen vehicles recovered in an hour
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police recovered two stolen vehicles inside of an hour Thursday.
Watsonville Police Service Specialist Marilyn Lopez noticed the first vehicle, a 2000 Honda CRV, on Hill Avenue at Tuttle Street at 12:10pm. Lopez said she had spotted the green SUV parked in the same...
Santa Cruz County health officer says mask order won’t change behavior
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Saying that she has not yet seen reliable data that a countywide masking mandate would alter personal behavior or lower Covid-19 cases, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said she does not plan to issue a new order any time...
Watsonville’s policing committee releases report, readies recommendations
WATSONVILLE—After more than 30 meetings over the past eight months, the Watsonville Ad Hoc Committee on Policing and Social Equity on Aug. 4 released its final report to the public before its final meeting on Aug. 21.
For Watsonville City Councilman Francisco “Paco” Estrada a...
‘It’s emotional’: Youth N.O.W. closing on Aug. 31
WATSONVILLE—A line of students from a variety of Watsonville schools on Wednesday filed through the Youth N.O.W. facility loading their backpacks with school supplies—from paper, tape and paints, to notebooks, pens and glue.
“It’s emotional. It’s emotional for my staff, it’s emotional for me …...
Mural ushers in new Silver Circle room at Watsonville Hospital
WATSONVILLE—A group of four local artists is creating a mural inside the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley’s (CHT) building at Watsonville Hospital (WCH), where the volunteer-led Silver Circle senior program has found a new home.
Kati D’Amore, Joyce Oroz, Linda Bjornson and Joanne Andrews...
Freedom VFW post facing closure
WATSONVILLE—Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1716, which has served the local community of veterans since its inception in 1929, is facing closure after members failed to elect officers at a meeting in July.
Member Paul Szemenciak says that, out of 116 members, just eight showed...
Photo: Shots fired during reported Watsonville carjacking
Watsonville police officer Chance Denecke photographs a bullet at the Sunny Meadows apartment complex Wednesday after two men reportedly carjacked a vehicle. WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said a victim told police two suspects took a Mercedes Benz 250 sedan just after 2pm from him...
Photo: Two brush fires spark an hour apart
Watsonville firefighters chase down flames in a wild land blaze along the Pajaro River levee Monday around 3pm. Capt. Rick Pettigrew said the half-acre fire, which drew firefighters from North Monterey County Fire and Cal Fire, did not threaten any structures. Firefighters managed to...
Hollister man, woman die in motorcycle crash
WATSONVILLE—A man and a woman from Hollister died in a crash involving their motorcycle Saturday afternoon on Hecker Pass Road.
They were identified Tuesday as Timothy Chisholm, 43, and Casey Lea Stephens, 41, by Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn.
California Highway Patrol spokesperson...
Thousands show to Watsonville Strawberry Festival’s return
WATSONVILLE—A year after it was canceled because of the pandemic, the Watsonville Strawberry Festival drew more than 5,000 people to downtown Sunday to eat, shop, dance and celebrate the Pajaro Valley’s top crop and the continued slow return to normalcy.
Watsonville Parks and Community Services...
Powerful storms clobber Central Coast
A string of strong winter storms slammed the Central Coast over the past several days, toppling power and communication lines, knocking down scores of...
