Giant local beer distributor has small beginnings
George Couch was an ambitious 25-year-old when he came to Watsonville in 1973 and negotiated a deal to purchase a small Anheuser-Busch distributorship. It would not stay small for long.
His company Couch Distributing, which he runs with his brother Geoff, has since 1973 delivered...
Santa Cruz County Supervisors declare local emergency
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declared a local emergency in response to the increasing numbers of coronavirus cases.
The board also ratified a Mar. 4 declaration by Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel of a local health emergency.
Health...
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association makes record donation for memorial park
SOQUEL—The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs' Association (DSA) has offered a $100,000 “challenge” grant to help fund a memorial for Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was killed on duty on June 6, 2020.
The grant is the largest donation in the organization’s history.
The DSA now...
Keeping a tradition alive
At Lakeview Middle School, a few men stand around wrapping their hands in leather and tape. They are preparing to play Pelota Mixteca, a primarily Oaxacan ball game that has old and debated origins.
Hundreds relocated from unpermitted housing in Royal Oaks
A property owner in Monterey County is facing dozens of citations and nearly $60,000 in fines after more than 200 people were found living in several unsafe “greenhouse-like” structures.
Officials discovered several greenhouses on the 1100 block of San Miguel Canyon Road in Royal Oaks...
PVUSD asking voters to support Measure M to improve school facilities
In a tiny, cramped classroom on Pajaro Valley High School’s sprawling campus on Tuesday, a group of students was taking turns on a makeshift stage expressing various emotions and personalities as dictated by their drama teacher.
One by one, the students met their challenges to...
Dominican’s Women of Wellness Council receives $55,000 in funding
Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has received an inaugural round of $55,000 in funding from the Women of Wellness Council, a women’s giving society.
Lengthy Salinas standoff ends, gunman killed
A nine-hour standoff with a barricaded gunman in Salinas ended Wednesday with the gunman being fatally shot after he reportedly shot a Monterey County Sheriff’s deputy.
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced Thursday that Sheriff’s Deputy Jesse Grant went to 29 Sun St.,...
Salvation Army plans moving forward
Plans by the Watsonville Salvation Army to revamp its downtown location moved forward Wednesday when the organization met to discuss a recent needs assessment.
PVUSD board to mull ‘stay-away letter’ for Medina
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board Trustee Gabe Medina could be restricted from entering the Pajaro Valley High School campus after a confrontation with...

















