Donation center opens in South County; volunteers needed
Update (3pm, Aug. 24)
South Santa Cruz County residents seeking to make donations for those impacted by the CZU August Lightning Complex fires can now drop off items at a warehouse at 114 Walker St. in Watsonville.
The City of Watsonville is no longer accepting donations...
Weather gives firefighters a break; CZU Complex fires 5% contained
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Mother Nature is lending a hand in the fight against the CZU August Lightning Complex fires in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Mark Brunton said a much welcomed marine layer wandered into the Central Coast as the weekend got...
Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre los incendios de la Costa Central
Varios incendios están ardiendo en la Costa Central, forzando evacuaciones masivas en los condados de Santa Cruz, San Mateo y Monterey.
¿Dónde están?
Hay tres grandes incendios en nuestra región: el CZU August Lightning Complex, el River Fire y el Carmel Fire.
CZU August Lightning Complex
Estos incendios...
Firefighters get first ‘jump’ on CZU Complex fires
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Seven days into the battle against the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, Cal Fire officials announced Saturday morning that they were able to get their first “jump” on the growing blaze in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Although the fire overnight grew to 63,000...
Evacuation center at Lakeview Middle School opens
WATSONVILLE—An additional evacuation center for Santa Cruz County residents fleeing the CZU August Lightning Complex fires opened Friday night at Lakeview Middle School in Watsonville.
The center is a partnership between the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley Unified...
Deputies arrest 5 suspected looters as CZU Lightning Complex fires grow
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday arrested five people suspected of looting evacuated homes on Fall Creek Drive, a small community in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Felton.
Jose Gandarilla, Susana Luna, Crystal Araujo, Sara Loretz and Crystle Parstch-Lucchesi face numerous felony...
Several fires force mass evacuations, char thousands of acres in Santa Cruz mountains
UPDATE (Aug. 21, 6:33am)
Firefighters and law enforcement officers were pulled away for three separate rescue incidents to save residents who were trying to protect their homes from the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, which have now charred 50,000 acres, or roughly 78 square miles,...
Osmundson to retire from PVUSD school board
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Karen Osmundson has held her Area III seat since 2004, and has survived challenges in four elections and garnered support of educators districtwide.
But this year will mark the end of her tenure.
While she said she plans to remain...
County’s budget cuts to Sheriff’s Office eased
SANTA CRUZ— The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an $874 million budget for the coming year that includes cuts and position reductions to every department in the county.
According to County Budget Manager Christina Mowrey, the reductions include furloughs of 5-10%,...
Man driving in evacuated Santa Cruz mountains arrested on DUI, multiple weapons charges
BOULDER CREEK—A San Jose man was arrested early Friday on suspicion of DUI and multiple weapons violations after he reportedly drove past a “Road Closed” barrier in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The California Highway Patrol said Christopher Campbell, 44, was driving north on Highway 9...
Watsonville’s Jillian Lerma delivers win over Palma in walk-off fashion |...
Watsonville senior Jillian Lerma delivered a walk-off RBI single in the Wildcatz’s 2-1 win over Palma in extra innings in Pacific Coast Athletic League...
