Man who arranged sex date with teen gets probation
A Watsonville man who last year arranged a meeting for sex with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation and a 120-day suspended jail sentence.
Valentin Rodriguez, 63, must also register for life as a sex offender.
Rodriguez,...
Beloved PV High Bike Tech instructor told he won’t return next school year
WATSONVILLE—For more than a decade, students at Pajaro Valley High School have had the option of an elective class that teaches them to assemble and maintain bicycles.
The class was launched by Project Bike Tech, a program that started in Santa Cruz at The Bike...
Hundreds of evacuated animals held at Fairgrounds; room still available
WATSONVILLE—While the fire evacuation center at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is reaching capacity for humans—only single cots and limited tent camping space are available—there is still room for pets and other animals.
Hundreds of animals have been evacuated to the fairgrounds since the CZU...
O’Neill Sea Odyssey taps new executive director
Rachel Kippen will take over the helm of O’Neill Sea Odyssey in March when founding director Dan Haifley retires, the organization announced Tuesday.
Gov. Newsom calls for bars, breweries to close; says older adults should stay home
WATSONVILLE—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday afternoon said all bars, night clubs, wineries and breweries should close and that restaurants should move to takeout orders and reduce to half-capacity to halt the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus that has sickened thousands worldwide.
He also called...
Watsonville city employee arrested for sexual assault
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police on Tuesday arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Matthew Jimenez was charged with sodomy on a minor and oral copulation on a person under 16, both felonies. He was also charged with annoying or molesting a child, a...
PVUSD Celebrates 120 Students with Free Guitars 4 Kids
On Nov. 16, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, in partnership with Free Guitars 4 Kids (FG4K) and Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s Mariposa Arts program, celebrated with 120 students who received their own guitars.
The event at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s The Grove Ballroom showcased...
PHOTO: Hot rods in Capitola
People enjoy viewing dozens of classic cars, hot rods and muscle cars at the Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show Saturday.
K9 helps nab suspect, find drugs, cash, gun
A man was arrested Dec. 4 after Monterey County Sheriff's deputies found drugs, cash and a loaded gun in a vehicle.
Around 3:15pm, detectives with...
