News

SANTA CRUZ—A man in custody for domestic violence-related charges at Santa Cruz County Main Jail was found dead inside his cell Sunday, Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn announced. According to Keehn, correctional officers found Tamario Rashawn Smith, 21, unresponsive inside his cell around 6pm. The officers performed...

The Watsonville Woman’s Club held its first meeting of the season Friday, when they handed out $5,000 worth of scholarships to six recent high school graduates.

SANTA CRUZ—Medical Professionals working for the Santa Cruz County Health Department—which has been grappling with low supplies of Personal Protective Equipment due to the Covid-19 epidemic—got a boost Monday with a donation from the Pajaro Valley Quilt Association (PVQA). Volunteers from that organization—45 in all,...

A fire ripped through an RV parked behind Kmart on Tuesday.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As arrangements are being made for the memorial of Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was gunned down June 6 in Ben Lomond, local colleagues and fellow law enforcement personnel are gathering their thoughts about the man with the beaming...

WATSONVILLE—The Crosetti Building at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds was almost unrecognizable Saturday evening, decked out for the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s 58th annual Gala and Dinner. Going for a “Roaring ‘20s” theme, the inside of the building was decorated in black,...

WATSONVILLE—A newly-hired Watsonville Police Officer was arrested Aug. 20 in an off-duty incident in South Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Tyler Leroy Stephens is accused of physically assaulting a man and vandalizing two slot machines.   The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said that Stephens called 911, saying he...

The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday honored the winners and nominees of the Queer Youth Leadership Awards.

Local trainer celebrates 15 years, dishes tips for New Year’s resolutions Most of Brian Orozco’s clients are in constant pain before they walk through the doors of his Main Street business, Functional Fitness Training Center. Tasks as simple as bending over to play with their...

WATSONVILLE—The historic Porter Building in downtown Watsonville will not be sold to the Pajaro Valley Arts Council—it won’t be sold to the owners of this publication, either.  At least not anytime soon. Ongoing discussions between the city of Watsonville and PV Arts around the vacant city-owned...