KRKC COUNTRY

  MONTEREY COUNTY – The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) announced that the deadline to submit nominations for their “23rd Annual Transportation Excellence Awards” is Friday, December 6, 2024. The awards honor individuals, businesses, groups, or programs and projects for their efforts to improve the transportation system in Monterey County.   Examples of potential awards include:     Projects that exemplify TAMC’s mission to develop and maintain a multimodal transportation system that enhances mobility, safety, access, environmental quality, and economic activities in Monterey County     Innovative activities that promote safer or more efficient use of the local transportation network.     Citizens or organizations that have made significant efforts to inform and educate the public about transportation issues.     Successful efforts to improve transit services and encourage the use of commute options as alternatives to dr...

  Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will be holding its monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 3 at 11:00 a.m. at Pozzi’s Stampede located at 207 Broadway in King City. The annual Christmas meeting will feature entertainment by the Los Vaqueros Hunting Club Traveling Band. Members and guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy or gift for a child between the ages of 7 and 14 years of age which will be donated to Loaves and Fishes Food Distribution. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. For reservations and further information call (831) 385-1333 or email karenjleonhard@gmail.com. 

  With thousands of people getting ready to start their Thanksgiving travel plans, the roadways are going to be very busy. Add in the rainy weather and things could get messy on our roadways. The California Highway Patrol in King City and throughout the state will be out in force as they start their Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP). This MEP will begin on Wednesday, November 27 at 6:01 pm and continue through Sunday night, December 1 at 11:59 pm. The CHP wants nothing more than for everyone to make it safely to and from their destinations and enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family. Drive safely everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving.

  Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto released a statement on November 25 after the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced that they would not be filing charges against a Monterey County Sheriff Deputy who was arrested for concealing a handmade weapon and committing criminal conspiracy while working inside the jail facility. Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said, “We believe a crime did in fact occur, however, it is up to the District Attorney to make a decision on whether or not to file charges. This decision does not change the circumstances of what occurred and what was investigated in this case.” Deputy Gaspar Estevez was arrested on November 5, 2024, after the Monterey County Sheriff's Office received a tip that he had concealed a sharp-edged handmade weapon - commonly known as a shank - that was provided to him by an incarcerated person. Through the course of the investigation, Monterey County Sheriff’s Detectives developed probable cause to believe that a crim...

  SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on November 25 that her office completed a review of a case submitted by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office concerning suspect Deputy Gaspar Estevez. The District Attorney’s Office determined that proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not support that Deputy Estevez committed any crime. During a conversation, an inmate told Deputy Estevez that there are weapons in every housing unit at the jail. According to Estevez, he told the inmate to turn a weapon over to prove he wasn’t bluffing. About a week later, the inmate provided Estevez with a five-and-a-half-inch-long inmate-manufactured weapon, commonly referred to as a shank. At the end of his shift that day, Estevez took the shank home and put it on his garage shelf. On November 7—approximately 2 weeks later, according to an inmate who indicated he had observed the shank exchange—sheriff’s investigators interviewed Estevez. Estevez told the inv...

  SALINAS, CA – The Monterey County Elections Department will certify the final results of the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.   Voters who need to correct a missing or mismatched signature on their vote-by-mail ballot have until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, 2024, to submit a signature statement. All voters with a signature challenge have been mailed a signature statement to correct their signature. The statement is also available online at tinyurl.com/Sig-Statement   How to Submit a Signature Statement Voters can submit their signature statement using any of the following methods:     Online: Visit tinyurl.com/Sig-Statement     Email: Send to vbm@countyofmonterey.gov     Fax: (831) 755-5485     In Person: Deliver to the Monterey County Elections Office during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Closed on weekends and holidays.     By Mail: Ensure timely...

  SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday, November 18 that 42-year-old Michael Ellison of Riverside, CA, was convicted by a jury of First-Degree Murder, First- Degree Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer, and First-Degree Attempted Murder. Ellison was also convicted of 3 counts of Assault by a Life Prisoner. The Honorable Judge Stephanie Hulsey presided over the trial. On April 8, 2018, Ellison stabbed fellow prisoner Jason Lewis to death in the prison yard at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad. On July 26, 2019, Ellison, while housed in administrative segregation at Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, stabbed a Correctional Officer multiple times. On August 12, 2023, Ellison stabbed his cellmate at Salinas Valley State Prison. The jury also found true allegations that Ellison has a prior conviction for Murder out of Riverside County in 2004, Assault by a Prisoner with a Deadly Weapon from Kings County in 2005, and...