Local News

SOLEDAD — Assemblymember Robert Rivas has named Erica Padilla-Chavez, a Soledad resident and president of the Hartnell Community College District Governing Board, as Woman of the Year for Assembly District 30. The March 30 announcement came as part of an annual Women’s History Month observance...

CHAMBER AWARDS SALINAS — Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of its Annual Awards Luncheon, which will take place on Thursday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sherwood Hall. The Chamber will honor the following businesses and individuals for...

SOLEDAD — Soledad High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program has received the Distinguished Unit Award for the fourth time in a row. Congressman Jimmy Panetta, a Navy combat veteran, visited the cadets at the school gymnasium on March 23 to recognize their...

BOOK TOUR KING CITY — Former King City resident and police officer, Larry D. Kendrick is on a reading and book-signing tour and will be stopping in King City on Tuesday, April 12. The local author and novelist will be at Wildhorse Cafe, 50630 Mesa...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Free Libraries has announced the availability of Transparent Language Online for Libraries, a complete language-learning system with courses and lessons designed to build listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. “We are excited that students receiving literacy instruction can augment their...

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...