Photo: Two brush fires spark an hour apart
Watsonville firefighters chase down flames in a wild land blaze along the Pajaro River levee Monday around 3pm. Capt. Rick Pettigrew said the half-acre fire, which drew firefighters from North Monterey County Fire and Cal Fire, did not threaten any structures. Firefighters managed to...
Hollister man, woman die in motorcycle crash
WATSONVILLE—A man and a woman from Hollister died in a crash involving their motorcycle Saturday afternoon on Hecker Pass Road.
They were identified Tuesday as Timothy Chisholm, 43, and Casey Lea Stephens, 41, by Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn.
California Highway Patrol spokesperson...
Thousands show to Watsonville Strawberry Festival’s return
WATSONVILLE—A year after it was canceled because of the pandemic, the Watsonville Strawberry Festival drew more than 5,000 people to downtown Sunday to eat, shop, dance and celebrate the Pajaro Valley’s top crop and the continued slow return to normalcy.
Watsonville Parks and Community Services...
15-year-old killed in double stabbing on Marin Street
WATSONVILLE—A 15-year-old boy died from stab wounds late Aug. 7 on Marin Street in Watsonville and two teen males have been taken into custody.
Watsonville Police Department spokesperson Michelle Pulido said police took a 17-year-old male into custody Monday night on suspicion of homicide.
On Monday...
Watsonville city councilman takes indefinite leave of absence
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Aurelio Gonzalez will take an indefinite leave of absence from his duties because of a family emergency, he confirmed Tuesday.
Gonzalez said that he hopes to return to the City Council and the various boards and commissions on which he sits sometime...
Local students will wear masks indoors when they return to class
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—When Santa Cruz County students return to the classroom, some as early as Aug. 12, they will be required to wear masks while indoors, but will—at least for now—be free from the social distancing requirements that came during the last school year.
There...
American Legion welcomes new commander, officers | News Briefs
The American Legion Post 121 welcomed eight new Post Officers for 2022, including its new Post Commander Felipe Hernandez.
Hernandez, who was voted in by members at the previous meeting, will be filling the spot left by Rick Sanchez, who served two consecutive terms, including...
County gets first Filipino American judge
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The county’s first Filipino American judge was recently appointed as a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“My knees went weak when I got the call,” said Jerry Bustos Vinluan III. “I was overwhelmed. It was later in the...
Biden, in a push to phase out gas cars, tightens pollution rules
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a multistep strategy aimed at rapidly shifting Americans from gasoline-powered cars and trucks toward electric vehicles—a central part of his plan to reduce the pollution that is heating the planet.
Biden is first restoring and slightly strengthening auto mileage...
Sparking careers: Watsonville Fire youth program wraps up
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville fire engine 4415—with lights flashing and sirens blaring—pulled up to a two-story building on Airport Boulevard Thursday afternoon, which had smoke pouring from an upper window.
A group of firefighters quickly jumped out and got to work, donning breathing gear, unspooling hoses and releasing...
Gun found at Aptos High tied to ‘off-campus incident,’ authorities say
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s investigators believe a firearm found on the Aptos High School campus this week is likely tied to an incident that...
