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Watsonville
December 16, 2025

Watsonville Criterium holds first-ever kids race

Saturday’s criterium (a closed-circuit cycling event) featured eight categories of adult races between noon and 5 p.m., racing for 45-60 minutes. Presented by Velo Promo and Golden Chain Cyclists, the USA Cycling race attracts cyclists from across California.

Man arrested after lengthy standoff

A man who held police at bay while armed with a knife was arrested late at night on Sept. 4 outside a Herman Avenue home in Watsonville. At around 8:40pm, Watsonville Police officers responded to the 300 block of Herman Avenue following reports of a...

Supervisors approve public defender transition plan

Larry Biggam santa cruz county public defender office
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a transition plan to create a county-run public defender’s office, which includes hiring staff and a chief public defender. County officials are now in talks with attorneys working for Biggam, Christensen and Minsloff (BCM),...

Year in Review: 2020 in photos

California wildland fires air
Here are photos from the Pajaronian team that defined this year. Coronavirus closures Community comes together For the record Hot topics Saying Goodbye Bright spots

Crews help clean up Corralitos Creek

corralitos creek cleanup airport boulevard
About 30 people from various organizations formed a community cleanup Wednesday on a slice of private property on Airport Boulevard at Pajaro Lane. Headed up by the office of Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, the crew got support from the County of Santa Cruz and the City...

A blaze of glory: longtime fire reservist dies

John R. Walker Jr., a major fixture in Watsonville’s landscape of firefighting, parades and labor task force, died Jan. 27 of pancreatic cancer. He was 84. Walker  served as a Watsonville Reserve Firefighter for three decades, and left that post as Reserve Lt. Co. No....

Santa Cruz Police investigating 4th shooting in 3 weeks

According to SCPD Sgt. Gregg Crofts, officers responded to a report of shots fired about 11:20 p.m. Everyone involved had fled, but officers located evidence and interviewed witnesses.

Murder suspect dead from suicide

Raul Mata
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Watsonville man arrested last month for allegedly killing his stepdaughter 16 years ago in Florida has died after severing the femoral artery in his leg while in jail and suffering hemorrhagic shock, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said Tuesday. Raul...

Pair arrested on host of charges

Police conduct a probation search on Silver Leaf Drive of Gustavo Ochoa, 27, of Watsonville Wednesday.

Watsonville Police: Men were running 'chop shop'

Two Watsonville men were arrested Thursday after detectives searching their residence found “tens of thousands of dollars” worth of stolen items, Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
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Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López to step down

Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López has announced his retirement after 35 years of service to the community. HIs retirement will be effective Dec. 31.  López...