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Salinas
December 18, 2025

Chavez resigns from Soledad City Council due to move

SOLEDAD — Soledad City Councilmember Alejandro Chavez has resigned from his position effective Oct. 31 after 13 years of service. Chavez and his wife Erica Padilla-Chavez, who also resigned after 14 years as a trustee from the Hartnell College Governing Board, will be moving out...

Cause of wildfire near Soledad still under investigation

SOLEDAD — The cause of a wildfire near Astoria Shooting Range in Soledad is still under investigation, according to Cal Fire officials. The wildfire, named the Range Fire, started June 4 at about 5:38 p.m. near the gun range on San Vicente Road, northeast of...

ALBA program empowers Salinas Valley farmworkers to become leaders in sustainable agriculture

SALINAS VALLEY — Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) is spotlighting its transformative Programa Educativo para Agricultores (PEPA), a comprehensive training program empowering farmworkers to transition into successful organic farmers. This program is reshaping agriculture in the Salinas Valley, offering Latino farmworkers the tools and...

Salinas Valley Grad Notes | Feb. 29, 2024

Grad Notes
Ariana Mercado of Soledad, Daniel Pantoja of Greenfield and Anthony Rangel of King City were named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List at University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan. USM students must end the semester with a 3.5 GPA or better to make...

Little League | South Monterey County Major teams play in Tournament of Champions

SALINAS VALLEY — Little League Major teams from South Monterey County played at last week’s District 9 Tournament of Champions. The double elimination tournament featured teams from Atlantic, Continental, Ferrasci, Gonzales, Greenfield, Hartnell, Hollister, King City, Manzanita, National and Soledad Little League programs. Gonzales finished the...

Fire crews rescue hiker at Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park rescue
SOLEDAD — Soledad Fire Department and Cal Fire BEU Pinnacles Crew 1 worked together to rescue a hiker in the western part of Pinnacles National Park on Saturday afternoon. They responded to the call for a medical rescue at around 3 p.m. on March 2...

Soledad man arrested for molesting minor under 10

Police arrests
SOLEDAD — A 35-year-old man from Soledad has been arrested for sexually assaulting a minor, announced the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday. Carlos Sandoval Valencia was arrested Wednesday for an unrelated investigation by the Soledad Police Department. When deputies learned Valencia was in custody,...

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office receives $75K grant to fight alcohol-related harm

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to reduce alcohol-related harm in the community. ā€œThis initiative is essential to improving youth safety and giving law enforcement the tools needed to...

Gonzales celebrates veterans with ā€˜Hometown Heroes’ ceremony

GONZALES — In a heartfelt tribute, the City of Gonzales honored 28 local veterans and active-duty service members during a special Hometown Heroes ceremony last week at Central Park. The Nov. 6 event, held in partnership with the American Legion Post 81 and the American...

Hartnell College gains national honor for student access and earnings

Hartnell College
SALINAS VALLEY — Hartnell College has been named an Opportunity College and University (OCU) in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, recognizing institutions that provide broad student access and measurable earnings outcomes following graduation. Hartnell is one of 60 community colleges in the United States—and one of...

Local News

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office investigation

Deputy involved in shooting of suspect armed with rifle in Soledad

SOLEDAD — In the early morning hours of Dec. 16, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies were dispatched to a report of a suspicious...