News

WATSONVILLE—After 18 years at the helm of the Lutheran Community Church of Watsonville, and 40 years total as an ordained minister, Rev. Susan Birkelo will soon retire. Born in Minnesota, Birkelo’s family moved to San Diego when she was still in kindergarten. After school, she...

The latest exhibit to come to the Cabrillo Gallery, “Findings: Excerpts from the Sabbatical Studies of Dawn Nakanishi & Rebecca Ramos,” officially opened Jan. 29 and will run through March 2.

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that would prohibit companies forcibly transporting children. Also under the ordinance, families could sue transport companies that use force against their children for $10,000, plus legal costs. The issue came to...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Hundreds gathered Wednesday for Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller’s memorial at Cabrillo College under brilliant sunny skies. Gutzwiller, a former Cabrillo student and Aptos resident, was gunned down while on duty June 6 in Ben Lomond. The event began at 7:45am with...

Wildfires in the county’s unincorporated regions have stayed relatively low for this time of year, with just 71 vegetation fires so far in 2023 in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, compared to 107 for the same time period last year. That’s according to Nate...

WATSONVILLE—A small plane crashed Sunday afternoon in a field near Pajaro Valley High School, hitting the top of a power pole and coming to rest in a field about 50 yards from the school. No serious injuries were reported. No buildings or facilities at the...

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More than 150 people gathered at Watsonville High School on Oct. 17 for the official opening of the athletic field’s new bleachers and announcer's booth.  Principal Joe Gregorio welcomed the crowd at Geiser Field that included former principals Elaine Legoretta, Murray Shekman and Nancy Bilicich.  Gregorio...

A 5-year-old boy died Wednesday after his twin brother reportedly stabbed him in the back with a kitchen knife. Ashley Keehn, public information officer for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, said deputies were dispatched to a report of a stabbing at a home in...