PV Trustees address digital divide, open athletic fields
WATSONVILLE—During a busy night with a loaded agenda, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved plans to boost internet access throughout the city, hire a nurse to coordinate the district’s Covid-19 response and use grant money to purchase an...
More than 700 structures destroyed by CZU Complex fire; now 24% contained
SCOTTS VALLEY—The level of containment in the CZU August Lightning Complex fires continues to increase, and so does the number of confirmed destroyed and damaged structures.
The blaze in the Santa Cruz Mountains has destroyed 746 structures and is still threatening more than 13,000 others...
Sheriff’s detectives arrest wallet thief
SCOTTS VALLEY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s detectives on Wednesday arrested a Live Oak man suspected of using credit and bank cards stolen from a firefighter’s truck to make thousands of dollars in purchases.
Brian Lee Johnson, 37, has been charged with using stolen credit cards, receiving...
Suspect in deputy killing pleads not guilty
ALAMEDA—The man who allegedly shot and killed a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy before engaging in an explosive-laden crime spree in the Santa Cruz Mountains town of Ben Lomond on June 6 pleaded not guilty Thursday to a host of charges in Alameda County...
Officials provide ‘rough’ timeline for lifting CZU fire evacuations
By Jake Pierce, Good Times News Editor
SCOTTS VALLEY—The number of acres burned by the CZU Lightning Complex fire is up to 81,137, local Cal Fire Deputy Chief Jonathan Cox told reporters Wednesday night.
So far, investigators have found that the fire has destroyed 579 structures...
Sail away | About Town
Smoke from the CZU August Lightning Complex fires has been really bad most of the day. We got something of a break Monday and Tuesday, with blue sky dominating the weather picture. Maybe the wind shifted? I spoke with several people in Watsonville and...
Covid-19 economic restrictions expected to remain in place
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The economic restrictions imposed on various Santa Cruz County businesses are not expected to be loosened this week, according to Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency spokeswoman Corinne Hyland.
That’s despite the fact that the county will have spent its 14th day off...
Local author releases third book in trilogy
WATSONVILLE—For the past eight years, Nikki Lewen has been writing and releasing a trilogy of novels—all the while being a full-time teacher and coach at Watsonville High School.
This year, all that hard work has paid off as Lewen celebrates not only the release of...
City approves moratorium on Covid-19 evictions
WATSONVILLE—In a surprise end-of-meeting redux, the Watsonville City Council approved a moratorium on Covid-19 related evictions, reversing a decision it made just hours prior during Tuesday night’s meeting.
The council was preparing to wrap up the virtual session when Councilman Aurelio Gonzalez made a motion...
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...
Nomination Deadline Extended in Best Of Pajaro Valley
The deadline for nominations in The Pajaronian’s Best Of Pajaro Valley 2025 has been extended by two weeks.
What is the Best Day Trip? Which...
