KRKC COUNTRY

Scheduled road and lane closures  for South Monterey County from  Monday, April 30 through Friday, May 4, 2018  involve Highway 101 from Bradley to San Lucas due to day time striping along Highway 101 between Bradley to San Lucas/Route 198 from  8 am to 5 pm. Highway 101 in Greenfield are also scheduled to have road and lane closures from April 30 to May 4 because of daytime shoulder work along southbound & northbound Highway 101 from Harden Farms Road to Oak Avenue in Greenfield which will occur from  6 am to 5 pm . 

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County Board of Directors approved and authorized the Agency to execute a contract with Ecology Action to expand bicycle and pedestrian safety education in Monterey County at their last meeting on Wednesday, April 25 in Salinas. All 2 nd graders and 5 th graders in the Salinas Valley, Seaside and Marina will receive pedestrian and bicycle safety education within the next 2 years through this contract.  The focused outreach in each of these communities compliments the Monterey County Health Department’s Via Salinas Valley education and the Seaside & Marina Safe Walking & Biking to School planning grant. As a result, educators will be able to present safety training in over 107 classrooms per year and there will be additional outreach to parents and the surrounding community. Measure X was the 3/8 of a cent sales tax approved by voters in November of 2016. 60% of the  funds are dedicated to local streets and roads projects, while 40% is

A 2-vehicle accident took place on Highway 101 north near the Wildhorse Road exit in King City on Sunday afternoon, April 29 at around 12:37 pm. According to the CHP, a Dodge Ram made an unsafe turning movement causing it to hit a Dodge Dakota Pickup which was pulling a trailer that rolled over. Three people were transported to Mee Memorial Hospital. No drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash. However, a small ¼ acre brush fire broke out after the accident which was extinguished. Traffic was reduced to 1 lane and backed up for over an hour.  

The Salinas Valley Fair Kickoff fundraiser is coming up on Saturday, April 28 beginning at 5:30 pm in the Orradre Building at the Fairgrounds in King City. Tickets are $25 per person. Fair Board CEO TJ Plew says that they're hoping they'll be able to raise around $60,000 for this weekend's event which will help raise money for infrastructure improvements at the Fair along with programs for FFA and 4H. The Fair Kickoff will include a dinner, a silent auction, a live auction and the band Gotcha Covered will also be performing.   

District 20 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), along with District 5 Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, introduced the Armed Prohibited Persons Act of 2018 the week of April 23. This legislation helps states launch initiatives to remove guns from convicted felons and the dangerously mentally ill through a competitive grant program within the Department of Justice. The program assists states in developing a voluntary reference system that seeks separation of firearms from individuals who legally relinquished their ownership rights by committing a crime or being deemed dangerously mentally ill. “ Gun violence has become a daily reality for communities across the country. As Congress works to address this epidemic, we can start by supporting local law enforcement to connect with those whose access to legal firearms has been curtailed by a court of law because of public safety concerns ,”  said Congressman Panetta.  “This bill

The Arroyo Seco Citizen’s Association will be putting on an Arroyo Seco Duck Race Fundraiser on Saturday, April 28 from 11 am to 4 pm at the Coelho Ranch. Organizer Peter Garin said that 50% of the proceeds will go to support the Arroyo Seco Fire Station 20. Rubber ducks are $10 each and $25 for 3 ducks. More information about the fundraiser can be found at https://www.arroyosecocitizensassociation-ca.org/upcoming-events. 

The Greenfield City Council went over a number of different issues in regular session on Tuesday night, April 24. Mayor Pro Tem Avenlina Torres said that they had a lot of discussion about Title 17 which is an Ordinance about housing. Torres said that they wanted to discuss this issue to make sure that this Ordinance is conforming with California law. There was also talk about term limits for the Mayor and Greenfield City Council. Torres said that they'll probably put this on the ballot for people in Greenfield to vote on. 

The King City City Council on Tuesday night, April 24 at City Hall passed an Ordinance change by amending Municipal Code Section 9.08.010 to require all dogs on public property to be on a leash. The Council also agreed to have City Manager Steven Adams prepare a draft proposal ballot measure for the November 6, 2018 election that would increase the local sales tax by half a percent if it is passed by voters. Adams is projecting that this 1/2 percent tax increase could generate around $800,000 annually and help address their structural budget deficit. The Council will be discussing more about this issue at future meetings.  

Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on Tuesday, April 24 that Judge Carrie Panetta sentenced 54-year-old Salomon Calderon Medina of Greenfield, to 2 years in state prison for residential burglary of an elderly King City couple on May 6, 2017. Judge Panetta also sentenced Medina to 180 days for unlicensed contracting and not having workers’ compensation insurance. Following the elderly couple’s complaint, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit began investigating Medina in early June 2017. Investigators learned that he approached the couple in the parking lot of the King City Safeway, where he offered his services as  a contractor and never disclosed that he was not a licensed contractor. The couple invited Mr. Medina into their home where he promised to remodel their bathroom. The couple paid him $3,600 for remodeling work and other work on their property. Although Medina came to their property on one occasion with 2 workers and di

According to CHP Officer Oscar Loza, the Monterey Area California Highway Patrol arrested 15 drivers during the 4-20-18 weekend for driving under the influence. Officer Loza stated that 3 out of the 15 that were arrested were for a combination of drugs and alcohol.

The Gonzales Unified School District was in regular session on Monday night, April 23 in the High School Library. The Board began the meeting by swearing in new Board member Araceli Flores and went into closed session for over an hour. The Board came out of the closed session approving a recommendation from the administration to release a public employee. During the public comment period, parents, students, teachers and other people in the community addressed the Board about the teacher shortage in the District and that the Board reconsider rehiring some teachers.  Towards the end of the meeting GUSD members presented Ipads to Student Board members Fabiola Moreno and Cindy Aguilar.

PASO ROBLES, CA – On Sunday, April 22 at 2:56 am the Paso  Robles Department of Emergency Services responded to a report of a residential structure fire on the 900 block of Player Lane in Paso Robles. First arriving firefighters found a fully involved 2-car garage with fire extending into the  attic of the residence. Firefighters were able to stop the fire in the attic space and worked to prevent smoke and water damage to the occupant’s belongings and remainder of the structure. The sleeping residents were notified of the fire by an alert neighbor. Both the father and son were able to safely evacuate. A total of 19 firefighters responded to the incident with additional assistance from the Paso Robles Police Department and San Luis Ambulance Service.  The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services reminds all residents to ensure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their residence.

Many people showed up at Sol Treasures in King City for an Artist meet and greet event with a number of different photographers that were mostly from Monterey County displaying quite a bit of Black and White Photography on Friday, April 20. In addition, the Sol Youth Choir also performed. 

Three District Watch meetings were held in King City throughout the day Sunday, April 22. The meetings provided the community of 3 different districts to talk with law enforcement regarding any concerns they may have. Plus, it gave law enforcement and city officials the chance to inform the public about what they’ve been doing. Police Chief Robert Masterson spoke about how he and his department have been working on a comprehensive plan with people in the community to change youth violence in King City, they've also implemented a comprehensive surveillance system in the city, they're in the process of updating their bodycams to a better system, they've replaced their street lights, they've implemented a pro youth after school program for elementary school kids and they've also implemented a Major Crimes Investigation Unit which is a collaborative effort between the King City Police Department and Greenfield Police Department. There will be 2 District Watch meetin

The California Highway Patrol King City Office will be hosting an informal Coffee with a Cop get together on Wednesday, April 25 from 12 pm to 1 pm at Starbucks located at 1301 Broadway Street in King City. CHP Officer Michael Rigby said that this gathering provides people in the community an opportunity to ask questions and talk with law enforcement about any concerns they may have. For questions or more information, call Officer Michael Rigby at 831-385-3216 or by email at mrigby@chp.ca.gov. 

The annual spring tour for the San Antonio Valley Historical Association is planned for Saturday, April 28 with a chance for the public to learn about the Avila School near the Indians area of the Los Padres National Forest. 94-year-old Frank Knofler of San Jose is scheduled to be the featured speaker on the tour. Knofler lived in the area in 1932 and 1933 when his mother who taught at the Avila School along the San Antonio River. Knofler will share his memories of that time in the area which is north of Fort Hunter Liggett. Reservations are required for the tour by calling President Dennis Palm at 805-423-2845 or replying to  SAVHA4@gmail.com  by Monday, April 23.

On Wednesday, April 18 members of the Classification Unit of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office were awarded for their outstanding performance in assisting the FBI in crucial investigations.  Sgt. Sanchez, Deputy Arreola and Deputy Zarate were each personally given awards from the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco office of the FBI. The awards were signed by the FBI director.

On Wednesday, April 18 Monterey County Deputies at the County jail received information that Bryan Magdelano would be coming into custody with the intent of bringing drugs in to other inmates. Magdelano was searched and about 3 ounces of marijuana was found. In addition, the drugs were even labeled with the names of the intended “customers.” Magdelano was charged with possession of a controlled substance, bringing a controlled substance into the jail and a gang enhancement. 

Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will be holding a Scholarship Salad Luncheon on Friday, April 20 from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Salinas Valley Fair Cafeteria Building. Tickets are $10 each. SMCRWF Secretary Kathy Forgnone said that this is a fundraiser they put on that is supported by local merchants. Two $1000 scholarships will be given away to students who will be going off to a 2 or 4 year College. There will be plenty of food along with a raffle, silent auction and there will be live jazz music from the band One Night Stand. 

The King City Union School District met on Wednesday night, April 18 in regular session in the Magnet Arts Auditorium taking action to approve several items on their agenda. One item that the District approved was an MOU for a Communication system called Parent Square. Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Taylor says that the Communication system allows administrators and teachers to communicate with parents in the District by text, phone call and post. The main key feature of the system is that if an employee in the District sends a message to a parent then the parent will receive the message in their language and vice versa.  

A fatal 1 vehicle accident occurred on the Stair Step Summit Trail in the Pozo OHV area sometime on Monday, April 16 resulting in the death of 23-year-old Wolfgang Wyatt Forbes of San Luis Obispo. The man was driving his vehicle on some off road trails in the Pozo OHV Area when he crashed his vehicle, was not wearing his seatbelt and was partially ejected during the collision, causing fatal injuries. A dog owned by Forbes survived the accident. The crash site was discovered on Tuesday, April 17 by 2 off duty firefighters who were riding their motorcycles in the area. Forbes was reported missing to the San Luis Obispo Police Department on Monday, April 16 by his father.

A Salinas man is dead after a drunk driver hit his vehicle on Tuesday night, April 17.  The CHP reports that the fatal accident occurred at around 11:19 pm as 38-year-old Charles Bailey of Gonzales was speeding westbound on Gloria Road which is east of Highway 101 as he failed to see a Chevy Malibu with 2 occupants also traveling westbound on Gloria Road.  Bailey's vehicle hit the rear of the Chevy Malibu which caused it to veer off the south edge of the road where it overturned and came to rest on its wheels.  The GMC veered off the north end of the road into a vineyard. The 55-year-old driver of the Chevy Malibu was pronounced dead at the scene and his 42-year-old female passenger suffered a broken pelvis.  Bailey was arrested.  The accident is under investigation, but alcohol is believed to be a factor.  Any witnesses of the crash are urged to contact the CHP Monterey Area Office at 831-770-8000

A murder suspect was arrested in Soledad on Wednesday morning, April 18 at around 6:30 am.  A murder suspect was arrested in Soledad on Wednesday morning at around 6:30 am.  The Salinas Police Department reports that their SWAT team helped serve an arrest warrant on the 200 block of Pacifico Place and 8 th Street where they found 19-year-old Nathan Gallardo of Greenfield. Gallardo was wanted in connection with the February homicide of 32-year-old Joseph Suniga who was shot and killed while riding his bike on the 600 block of Apple Street in Greenfield.  A search warrant was also conducted on the 100 block of Pinnacles Street in Greenfield where 20-year-old Gerardo Salas Jr., 20-year-old Johnathan Davila and 26-year-old Michael Steven Guitierrez were arrested . Officers seized 42 grams of cocaine, two pounds of marijuana, and $1,500 in cash. In addition, they also found a clandestine BHO lab.  Gutierrez, Salas, and Davila were arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs for sale, po

The public is invited to attend 1 of 3 District Watch meetings in King City on Sunday, April 22. The meetings will occur at King’s Station Apartments Community Room at 1:30 pm, at the Chalone Peaks School Multi-Purpose Room at 3 pm and at the Arts Magnet School Auditorium at 4:30 pm. City Manager Steve Adams said that this program was formed in 2017 to encourage the community to work together to make King City neighborhoods safer. An update on the City's efforts to end youth violence will be presented and officers will go over plans to work in partnership with each district to develop solutions to local neighborhood problems.  There’s also going to be 2 District Watch meetings taking place at 2 different locations in King City on Sunday, April 29. The meetings will be held at the Santa Lucia School Cafeteria at 2 pm and at the Recreation Center at 3:30 pm. For questions or more information contact City Hall at 385-3281.  

S. Lombardi & Associates out of San Luis Obispo was recognized for their creativity taking home 13 awards at the 2018 American Advertising Awards of Coastal California in Santa Barbara in March. A TV commercial that they produced of this year’s Salinas Valley Fair in King City is 1 of 13 honors the agency received during the awards banquet. The agency also received awards for the work that they’ve done in radio, digital, social media and print marketing. 

PAICINES – The National Park Service (NPS) announced on Saturday, April 14 that Pinnacles National Park  will modify its entrance fees to provide additional funding for infrastructure and maintenance  needs to enhance the visitor experience. Effective January 1, 2019 the entrance fees to the park  will be $30.00 per vehicle or $25.00 per motorcycle. An annual park pass will cost $55. All of  the money received from entrance fees remains with the National Park Service with at least 80 percent of the revenue going to Pinnacles National Park.  Revenue from entrance fees remains in the National Park Service and helps ensure a quality  experience for all who visit. Currently at Pinnacles National Park, 100 percent of entrance fees stay in the park and are devoted to spending that supports the visitor.  In response to public comments on a fee proposal released in October 2017, there will be a modest increase for all entrance fee-charging parks, rather than the higher peak-season fe

The Gonzales Unified School District held a Special meeting on Monday night, April 16 in the High School Library. The Board approved 4-0 in closed session that they will be hiring an interim Superintendent for a 15 month appointment and will be working with the County office of education to do that in a timely manner to replace Liz Modena who was let go last week. During the public comment period GHS Math teacher Arin Millett submitted her resignation to accept an Instructional Math Coach position at Greenfield and King City High Schools. The Board deadlocked 2-2 between Araceli Flores and John Martinez to fill an open Board position, but deliberated again and after almost 20 minutes of discussion, approved 4-0 to appoint Flores to fill the Board seat until this November. 

A produce truck overturned heading northbound on Highway 101 near the Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad on Monday night, April 16 at around 7:30 pm. The CHP reports that traffic was backed up for at least a few hours as the driver received minor injuries. The cause of the accident is unknown.

A Burger King was robbed at gunpoint in Soledad early on Monday morning. April 16.  The Soledad Police Department reports that the armed robbery took place at a Burger King located at 2107 H Dela Rosa Street at around 7:45 am as the suspects roughed up the manager and forced the employee to a safe.  Two armed men then fled in a vehicle that was later abandoned in ag fields in the area.  SPD Officers are trying to gather evidence from the vehicle used in the armed robbery that was stolen and added that no one was injured during the robbery.

A driver caused a 3 vehicle crash on Highway 101 in Greenfield by driving the wrong way on Saturday night, April 14.  The CHP reports that the driver is being charged with a DUI and said that the driver was heading southbound in the northbound lanes sometime before 9 pm when the vehicle hit head-on with another vehicle near Oak Avenue. No one was injured.

Over 30 people attended a Town Hall Forum at La Hacienda Hall in Soledad on Friday night, April 13 discussing many different issues that are affecting people in the Soledad area. Assemblywoman and District 12 State Senate candidate Anna Caballero and Soledad City Councilman and District 3 County Supervisor candidate Alejandro Chavez spoke and answered questions. The Forum was the 3rd of 6 forums that Caballero and Chavez will be a part of in the Salinas Valley throughout the month of April. 

It was a beautiful day for a dedication ceremony of a new sign that was displayed at Forden Park in King City on Friday morning, April 13. The work was part of many improvements that have recently been done at the park that include the playground equipment. The cost of the sign was around $5000 which included building and installing it. Neil Binder of Border Magic and Builder Designs in Paso Robles and San Miguel helped design this sign and put it into the ground at Forden Park and indicated that he and his crew used a 2,500 pound concrete rock boulder.

KING CITY, CA— Can you sing, dance or play an instrument?  Are you an actor, magician or a juggler?  Do you know a vocal group or dance ensemble that should be recognized for their excellence? The Salinas Valley Fair Amateur Talent Show is the place to show off your special ability! Not only will you be recognized for your awesome performance but the Salinas Valley Fair is set to award $3,200 in prize money for the top performers in each age group. The contest will be divided into 4 age groups and includes 1 category for all adults ages 18 and older. Local officials will judge participants on overall talent, performance and stage presence. All winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event which begins at 7 pm on the Steinbeck Stage on Thursday May 17. The contest is open to all eligible Monterey County residents. Only the first 30 applicants are guaranteed a spot in the talent show so don’t wait until the last minute get your application in before the May 11 dead

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – Fort Hunter Liggett will host the annual Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, April 14 at Del Venturi Pond, to celebrate the Army Reserve's 110 th  birthday  and the Month of the Military Child. Registration begins at 6:30 am and the derby ends  at noon. Children ages 15 and younger from the local community as well as FHL are  invited.   Hosted by the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR), the event  drew 236 children in 2017, and sponsors are providing a free BBQ for the participants.  FMWR will provide fishing poles for up to 150 youth and a limited amount of bait.  Participants are encouraged to bring the bait of their choice.  Each child will be allowed to catch up to 5 fish. Prizes will be given for 1 st , 2 nd , and 3rd  place winners. The fishing derby will be held rain or shine.

A 2 vehicle accident took place southbound on Highway 101 on  Hobson Avenue in King City at around 8:42 am on Thursday morning, April 12. The CHP reports that 20-year-old Myriah Villanueva of Greenfield was heading east in a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser on Hobson Avenue, while 51-year-old Vinen Singh of Seaside was driving a 2001 Toyota Sienna south on Highway 101 and as Villanueva drove into an intersection, in an attempt to make a left turn onto Highway 101 north, Singh approached the intersection of Hobson Avenue. The right front of Singh’s vehicle collided with the left front of Villanueva’s vehicle. Villanueva was treated at the scene and was not injured, while Singh was transported to Mee Memorial Hospital complaining of pain in his neck. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelt at the time of the crash.  

There will a dedication ceremony for a new sign that will be displayed at Forden Park in King City on Friday morning, April 13 at 9:30 am. This is part of many improvements that have recently been constructed at the new park that include the playground. 

The Greenfield City Council at their regular meeting on Tuesday night, April 10 approved giving Greenfield Little League the right to run a concession stand during games and that they schedule the concession stand to be open during other events. In addition, the Council also approved some changes regarding animal control in the city involving chickens and other animals. Mayor Pro Tem Avelina Torres said that the Council approved to not allow residents to have chickens in the city limits and agreed that residents can have no more than 4 animals on their property. 

Superintendent Liz Modena was fired by the Gonzales School Board effective immediately after a closed door session on Wednesday night, April 11. The board voted unanimously 4-0 to relieve Modena of her duties. The decision was handed down after months of uproar as parents and teachers in the Gonzales Unified School District spoke out against Modena. Many say that Modena influenced the school board to let 3 teachers go who had a history of good reviews and that she also mismanaged the school’s budget.    

Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on Tuesday, April 10 that 54-year-old Salomon Calderon Medina of Greenfield entered a guilty plea on March 13, 2018 to residential burglary along with 2 misdemeanor counts of unlicensed contracting and not having workers’ compensation insurance. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit began investigating Medina in response to a complaint from an elderly King City couple. The couple alleged that Medina approached them in a supermarket parking lot where he offered his services as a contractor. However, Medina never disclosed that he was not a licensed contractor. Believing Medina to be lawfully licensed to perform such services, the couple invited Medina into their home. Once inside the couple’s residence, Medina again represented that he could remodel their bathroom and asked for $3,600 in professional fees. The couple paid Medina for the remodeling work. Although, he returned several  days later

The King City City Council began their regular meeting on Tuesday night, April 10 at City Hall with Mayor Mike LeBarre proclaiming April 10 as Dr. Edward Ballengee Day. Dr. Ballengee retired in March of 2018 as a Dentist in King City after 55 years. Dr. Ballengee said that the most important thing in life is to give and to give all that you can along with counting on the good lord to give you strength and good health. Dr. Ballengee stated that the good lord along with his wife, his patients and his dental assistants are his best friends. Dr. Ballengee went on to say that he never found anyone that he didn't love and thinks he loves the whole world. Dr. Ballengee said that he plans on raising more black angus bulls on 227 acres of land that he owns now that he's fully retired.  The King City City Council also approved to adopt a resolution that the city will take part in the California Statewide Communities Development Authority Open PACE Program. The Council also agreed t

KRKC Country is the official location of the National Weather Service for King City. The total amount of rain we received during the weekend of  April 7 & 8 measured at .21 inches of precipitation.

SOLEDAD – Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) officials in Soledad are investigating the death of an inmate that occurred on Sunday morning, April 8 just after 10 am in one of the prison’s maximum security yards. 35-year-old inmate Michael Ellison attacked 42-year-old Jason Lewis with an inmate-manufactured weapon. Officers quickly intervened and used chemical agents to quell the attack. Lewis succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the prison. Lewis was admitted on December 30, 2016, from San Diego County to serve a life-with-the-possibility-of-parole sentence for 1st degree murder as a 2nd striker. Inmate Ellison has been identified as the assailant. Since 2004, Ellison has been serving a life-with-the-possibility-of-parole sentence from Riverside County for 2nd degree murder. During his incarceration, Ellison received convictions from Kern and Kings Counties for possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner and assault by a prisoner with a deadly we

A single rollover accident took place in King City on Highway 101 northbound on Monday afternoon, April 9 that resulted in the death of a 67-year-old Berkeley man.  The CHP reports that the driver made an unsafe turn between 4 and 5 pm losing control of his 1998 Toyota Tacoma that flipped. His truck came to a stop in the center divide on Highway 101 near Jolon Road in King City.  The driver suffered major injuries and was taken to Mee Memorial Hospital where he later died. The accident is still under investigation. 

A 3-vehicle accident occurred on Highway 101 near the Broadway onramp in King City on Monday morning, April 9. The King City CHP along with other emergency responders were paged to the scene at around 11:28 am to assist. The collision happened as all 3 vehicles were heading north on Highway 101. The driver of 1 vehicle made an unsafe turn hitting a vehicle and causing another to overturn. Traffic was backed up for over an hour. The vehicle that overturned from the collision had to be towed away the site, while another vehicle sustained major front-end damage and another vehicle was also damaged. 2 people received minor injuries from the crash and were transported to Natividad Medical Center.

The Greenfield Police Department reported on Sunday, April 8 that 18-year-old Alec Ramirez and 18-year-old David Sanchez both of Soledad were arrested and taken into custody after a high-speed pursuit on Highway 101 between Greenfield and Soledad. Both were booked into the Monterey County jail.

On Thursday, April 5, 2018, Loudpack Farms released their latest employment figures for the recently completed Cultivation and Manufacturing Cannabis Facility located at 900 Cherry Avenue  in Greenfield.   The great news from this expanding industry is that 278 jobs have already been created, and that 103 City of Greenfield residents (37%) of this total now have new jobs - jobs that did not exist a few months ago. With the opening of the 900 Cherry Avenue facility, Loudpack Farms is now the largest single employer in Greenfield. The breakdown of where these new employees live is as follows: Greenfield   103 Soledad         39 King City       39 Gonzales         8 Chualar           1 Salinas          34 Other              54 Total             278    It is expected that 30+ new hires will occur at Loudpack Farms in the next few weeks. The above mentioned new job count does not include the construction jobs currently available and being filled as the major f

It may have been wet early in the morning, but it cleared up just in time for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of baseball and softball fields at the new Jesse Gallardo Park in Soledad on Saturday, April 7. The cost of the project was over $2.3 million and was made possible through redevelopment agency funds along with parks impact fees and other funding. Bellinger and Foster helped design the fields, while Sandstone Construction was the contractor and Harrison and Associates provided construction management on the project. In addition, Dole Fresh was responsible for putting in a new scoreboard in the outfield. 

The 4 th annual South County casino night benefiting the Rancho Cielo Youth Campus is Friday night, April 6 at 6 pm in the Orradre Building at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City. Tickets are $75 per person at the door. Organizer Candy Depauw said that there will be food and there will be a great casino for people to enjoy with a craps table, a blackjack table, a poker table, roulette and more. In addition, there will be a special short presentation from one of the students at Rancho Cielo. 

The King City Chamber was busy with their monthly luncheon on Thursday, April 5 at the King City Fire Department. Johnathan Estey from Mee Memorial Hospital in King City and Patsy Gasca from the American Red Cross in Santa Cruz spoke about Emergency Preparedness. The next King City Chamber Luncheon will be on May 3 at 12 pm at the Fairgrounds. 

There’s a good chance that we’ll be receiving rain in the Salinas Valley heading into the 1st full weekend of April. Meteorologist Jim Vanderzwaan says that another atmospheric river is flowing through which means that there is sub tropical moisture coming from the west. The Santa Lucia Mountains could receive 4 to 6 inches of moisture, while the Salinas Valley could accumulate a half inch to an inch and a half of precipitation.