Rountree escapee captured 8 hours later
WATSONVILLE—An inmate at the Rountree Medium Facility on the outskirts of Watsonville escaped Friday afternoon, leading to an intensive search that ended with his capture later the same day.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn said Christopher Dicochea escaped around 3:45pm from the correctional center on...
Mariners stay hot midway through the season | HS baseball
WATSONVILLE—Aptos baseball coach Jason Biancardi said it's never easy beating the same opponent twice, especially when the second meeting is at their place.
But a strong pitching performance combined with a nearly flawless defense and a dash of offensive firepower guided the Mariners to a...
Watsonville Brillante mosaic moves ahead
WATSONVILLE—The third phase of Watsonville Brillante, the massive mosaic project in downtown Watsonville, is taking shape.
Splashed across the exterior walls of the six-story Civic Plaza parking garage at Rodriguez and Second streets, the new phase will come in two halves five months apart. Last...
El Pájaro CDC partners with Staff of Life
El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (El Pájaro CDC) has entered into a partnership with Staff of Life, a natural foods market that recently opened its new store in the East Lake Shopping Center.
El Pájaro CDC, which aims to support small business entrepreneurs by...
Man caught burglarizing Watsonville business
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested late Tuesday night after he was caught burglarizing a business on Airport Boulevard.
Gabriel Soto-Gonzalez, 41, was charged with burglary, vehicle theft and providing false ID to police. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $25,000...
Film festival to raise funds for two local bicycle organizations
For 20 years the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) has been celebrating bicycles through art, film and music. Originating in New York, it has popped up in 100 cities across the globe, from Paris and Tokyo to Istanbul and Mexico City.
And now the festival is...
PVUSD bylaw changes would penalize absences, alter public comment
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of trustees on Wednesday took another step toward revamping its bylaws with the first reading of a series of recommended changes.
The trustees will vote on approving the changes during the June 9 meeting.
If approved, trustees who miss...
Cal Fire: prepare for heavy fire season
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County’s top fire official on Tuesday warned that, because of a lackluster rainy season, the ongoing drought and low reservoirs, the upcoming fire season could be as bad or worse than last year’s.
“As we look back at last year, anything...
PVUSD Trustees pass new bylaws
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustees who miss meetings without providing notice will lose their monthly stipend under a set of new bylaws approved by the board on Wednesday.
The trustees also heard a budget report that shows some positive financial news that is tempered...
This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, June 11
25 years ago on June 11, 1996
The Agricultural History Project’s Farm Implement Shed was completed and ready for dedication. Located just inside the fairgrounds’ main entrance, it is now used mainly for exhibits, but will eventually display large, antique farm implements. They will include...
Man and daughter die at Garrapata State Beach
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a man and his 7-year old daughter died at Garrapata State Beach Nov. 14 after being swept...














