Watsonville man who caused DUI crash sentenced to more than 5 years in prison
SALINAS—A Watsonville man who seriously injured a woman in a DUI crash nearly one year ago was sentenced Thursday to more than five years in state prison, Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Merideth Sillman said.
Noel Ledesma, 39, is in custody in Monterey County Jail.
He...
New County Health Services director has local roots
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Mónica Morales was 2 years old when her family immigrated from Mexico to Watsonville. She grew up attending local elementary schools, graduating from Watsonville High School while her mother worked in nearby agriculture fields and canneries.
This background, she said, is sure to...
County Office of Education lays out its strategy
WATSONVILLE—A gaggle of educators and nonprofit leaders gathered on the uppermost floor of the Watsonville City Plaza Tuesday to hear Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah outline his department’s operational plan for the next five years.
The two-hour session was both a chance...
More than 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks seized
WATSONVILLE—Members of Santa Cruz County’s Auto Theft Reductions Enforcement (SCARE) Task Force seized 1,120 pounds of illegal fireworks recently.
The Sheriff’s Office said an investigation led to the arrest of 30-year-old Edgar Narez on Green Valley Road for possession of illegal aerial fireworks.
“With the extreme...
Three arrested for Soquel burglary
SOQUEL—Santa Cruz Sheriff’s deputies on Saturday arrested three people after they allegedly burglarized a house in Soquel.
Elizabeth Chandler, Colby Jackson and Henry Hansen were charged with burglary, vandalism and resisting arrest. Only Jackson remained in custody Monday in lieu of $25,000 bail.
According to the...
Coroner: Gilroy Garlic Festival gunman shot himself
The Santa Clara County Medical examiner has reported that the man who shot and killed three people and wounded 12 others at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on July 28 shot himself, contradicting earlier reports that police officers shot him.
Organizers urge customers to avoid bulk buying WIC products
By Jazmin Juarez, special to the Pajaronian
WATSONVILLE—During the coronavirus outbreak, several people have gone shopping for food in large quantities without realizing the impact it can have on their neighbors.
Around 5,000 people in Watsonville rely on the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), whose...
Local landscaper gets national recognition
K&D Landscaping has spent more than three decades improving ground cover for homes and businesses throughout the Monterey Bay. Now, they have a cover of their own: Emblazoned across the front of the August edition of the nationally distributed Lawn & Landscape magazine is Justin White, CEO of K&D on Hangar Way.
Pajaro Valley Historical Association’s annual picnic returns
Field workers are shown at a strawberry harvest in Watsonville around the late 1800s. Such photos are a part of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association which is hosting its annual Vintage Picnic Saturday. The buffet lunch will be catered by Carmona's BBQ Deli and...
New School program offers field trips, education, life skills
WATSONVILLE—Deep in Second Harvest Food Bank’s cavernous warehouse on Thursday, a group of New School Community Day School students was hard at work, surrounded by pallets of produce and crates of canned goods.
The volunteer activity, which centered around preparing the food for distribution, was...
Monterey County DA probes CHP fatal shooting
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni has begun an investigation into an officer-involved shooting on the Highway 101 northbound at Ralph Lane in Prunedale...
