Local News

After working behind the badge of Watsonville Police for nearly three decades, officer Lee Katich waved goodbye Tuesday. “It’s been quite a good ride,” Katich said during a festive farewell party Tuesday evening that included Katich’s wife and two children and a roomful of officers...

Tarmo Hannula: Our Medditerean climate leaves little to complain about — mild summers, with a few hot spells; mild winters with a few cold weeks and some challenging storms. But these roasting hot days this week and with the scorchers of mid-August that brought us...

Watsonville Elks Lodge #1300 recently honored their Past Exalted Rulers (PER). It was a day of recognizing the leadership team for their past service to the lodge and community. The Elks support veterans, scholastic scholarships, local community programs and youth groups.  The PERs were recognized for...

Watsonville Police detectives are investigating a gang-related shooting that left two victims injured Wednesday night. The 14- and 18-year-old victims were transported to the hospital, where they are expected to fully recover.   According to WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido, police responded to reports of shots fired on...

Larry Jacobs and Sandra Belin, co-owners of Jacobs Farm del Cabo, have been named 2025 Farmer of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. The award is presented annually to farmer(s) who have contributed “beyond their normal farming duties to help the community.”...

Scholarship opportunities for Cabrillo students in healthcare field The Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust Board of Directors recently announced it has been named administrator of the Dr. Ehler H. Eiskamp Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will provide $50,000 in local healthcare scholarships. A Stanford graduate and the...

Do you have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the...

For a man as accustomed to unusual calls as Watsonville’s Fire Chief, Pablo Barreto started his day on Wednesday with an unusual one.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—At the apex of last year’s crisis points—the pandemic, George Floyd’s murder and the greater countrywide calls for social justice—several Santa Cruz County leaders were brought together to try to change the system from within. The group consists of people across the gender...