Willow Fire holds steady at nearly 2,400 acres
BIG SUR — A wildfire southeast of Big Sur in the Los Padres National Forest has charred at least 2,392 acres in steep, rugged terrain, triggering mandatory evacuations in the area.
Monterey County officials have issued evacuation orders for Tassajara Road, from China Camp Campground...
Chicana author becomes Monterey County’s new poet laureate
MONTEREY COUNTY — After a competitive application and evaluation process by a panel of literary experts, and approved by the Board of Supervisors, the Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) has announced Rachelle Escamilla as the 2024-25 Monterey County Poet Laureate.
The Poet Laureate is...
Greenfield teen arrested for DUI
GREENFIELD — A Greenfield teenager was arrested last week for drunken driving and other charges following a police pursuit on Highway 101.
On Saturday evening, Oct. 1, a patrol officer observed a vehicle driving in an unsafe manner and “believed the driver to be under...
Braga Fresh in Soledad to host free seminar on cover crops
SOLEDAD — Organic farming company Braga Fresh is co-hosting a free, day-long seminar for area growers at the company’s farm in Soledad on Thursday, Feb. 16.
Co-hosted by Sustainable Conservation and the Monterey County Farm Bureau, the event will cover the practical knowledge of cover...
Youth learn about gang violence at annual summit in Salinas
The annual Gang Prevention Summit on Jan. 26 featured many speakers from law enforcement and from the Boys and Girls Club. This year there was also a special speaker, Juan “Johnny” Gomez, who was present when two of his relatives were victims of gang violence.
Cooling centers open across Salinas Valley amid excessive heat and red flag warnings
SALINAS VALLEY — Cooling centers have opened across the Salinas Valley for residents to escape from the excessive heat this weekend.
City of Greenfield is offering a cooling station every day through Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greenfield...
Measure X subcommittee takes shape in Gonzales
GONZALES — Gonzales Measure K advisory committee has selected members of the new Measure X subcommittee, which will oversee the planning process for the upcoming community center, funded by the recently passed Measure X.
The first four members of the five-member subcommittee are Anna May...
Hartnell College awards record number of degrees and certificates
SALINAS VALLEY — Hartnell College celebrated a joyous in-person Commencement on May 20 at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas for the first time since 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than 700 graduates participated, the most in recent memory, and the college awarded a record...
Graphic footage interrupts Soledad City Council meeting
SOLEDAD — The Facebook and Zoom broadcast of Soledad City Council’s April 21 meeting had to be shut down twice and items from the meeting delayed after malicious characters took over the stream with a video feed of explicit pornography.
The first interruption took place...
Local News
Gonzales’ Camarena takes softball talents to Azusa Pacific
GONZALES — Gonzales resident Celeste Camarena has just begun attending school and training for softball at Azusa Pacific University near the city of Glendora...
