Local News

GONZALES — Watsonville City Council has unanimously appointed Rene Mendez, the current chief executive for the City of Gonzales, as Watsonville’s new city manager during its Tuesday meeting. Mendez has three decades of experience in state, county and city government and has spent the last...

SALINAS VALLEY — A Salinas Valley resident originally from Ukraine is seeking local help to raise money for a reconnaissance drone to be used in her hometown’s defense against Russian invasion. Irene Lee spent the first 43 years of her life in Ukraine, hailing from...

SALINAS — Regular crowds of at least 3,000 have attended the weekly Salinas Farmers Market since its move to Main Street earlier this year. The Saturday market has become a small community event, drawing hundreds of people within the first few minutes of the opening...

BIG SUR — A Monterey County judge has found 31-year-old Ivan Gomez guilty of starting the Big Sur Dolan Fire, which seriously injured a firefighter and destroyed multiple residences, as well as throwing rocks at a vehicle, cultivating marijuana and 12 counts of animal...

SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley high school seniors who plan to attend Hartnell College are encouraged to sign up by April 11 to attend Panther Prep Days on April 29-30 and receive priority registration. During Panther Prep Day events — on April 29 at Hartnell’s...

JOB FAIR KING CITY — Monterey County Office of Education will be partnering with King City Union School District to host a Paraeducator Job Fair on Thursday, April 7, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Boardroom of the district...

GONZALES — City of Gonzales has appointed Mark Hartunian as assistant city manager, officials recently announced. In collaboration with City Manager Rene Mendez, Hartunian will be responsible for the overall management analysis and administration coordination for the city. “As a member of the Executive Leadership Team,...

SALINAS VALLEY — Expanding programs within its Heal Together initiative, Coastal Kids Home Care has announced upcoming grief training sessions for mental health providers and community members. An already wide scope of programs now includes free upcoming training sessions from Dougy Center, a national center...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Department’s Covid-19 Stipend Program has ended as of March 31, the decision of which came as vaccine rates increase and the number of new cases has decreased. The Stipend Program started in December 2020 with the aim of helping...

LUNCHEON MEETING KING CITY — Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will be hosting its monthly luncheon meeting on Tuesday, April 5, at 11:30 a.m. at King Kora Restaurant, 611 Canal St., in King City. The guest speakers will be Vicki Nohrden, candidate for Assembly...