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Rachel Lancaster Wins Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2025 Title!

  SALINAS, CA - Rachel Lancaster has been crowned Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2025 following 2 days of competition at the Salinas Sports Complex. 4 accomplished young women vied for the title: Emily Drost, Miss San Benito Rodeo; Summer Fanning, Miss Old Santa Ynez Days Rodeo; Rachel Lancaster, Miss Marine Corp. League #014; and Gracie Skow, Miss San Benito Jr. Rodeo Association. Emily Drost was named 1st runner-up, and Gracie Skow took home 2nd runner-up honors.   Contestants were judged in the categories of personality, appearance, scholarship, and horsemanship. Emily Drost earned top marks in personality and appearance, while Rachel Lancaster received the highest scores in horsemanship and scholarship. Gracie Skow was honored with the congeniality award, as voted on by her fellow contestants.   As the newly crowned Miss California Rodeo Salinas, Lancaster received a $3,000 educational scholarship, a custom gold and silver belt buckle, a tiara sponsored by the Harden F...
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County of Monterey Congratulates Director Lee Ann Magoski on Becoming President of National 9-1-1 Association

  Monterey County, CA – The County of Monterey is proud to recognize and congratulate Lee Ann Magoski, Director of the County’s Emergency Communications Department, on her recent appointment as President of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA): The 9-1-1 Association. Sworn in during the NENA 2025 Conference & Expo in Long Beach, California, in June, Magoski now leads an organization of more than 23,000 emergency communications professionals across the United States and around the globe. Her presidency reflects not only her nearly 30 years of dedicated service in public safety communications but also the caliber of leadership that the County is honored to support. “Lee Ann Magoski’s presidency is a milestone not only for her career but also for our region,” said Sonia M. De La Rosa, County Administrative Officer. “Her leadership, vision, and advocacy in advancing public safety technology and supporting our emergency communications workforce set a national example.” M...

Jury Convicts Greenfield Man of Battery

  SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on July 1 that on June 30, 2025, a jury found 52-year-old Erik Sanchez of Greenfield, guilty of battery. After the jury returned a guilty verdict, Sanchez pleaded no contest to 2 other open cases for violating the terms a protective order, vandalism, and resisting arrest. He also admitted a violation of his terms of probation in another case. On May 19, 2025, Sanchez was taken to the Monterey County Jail for booking following his violation of a protective order. While being held for booking, Sanchez attacked another person in a holding cell, grabbing and punching the victim. The entire incident was captured on surveillance video in the jail. Sanchez will be sentenced by Judge Pamela Butler on July 2, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of just under 3 years on all cases.

2024 Monterey County Crop and Livestock Report Released

  How did Monterey County's leading economic sector perform last year? The 2024 Crop and Livestock Report was released on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, by County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo. Overall gross production value was nearly $5 billion – a more than 14% increase from the previous year. Of note for this year: for the first time, a crop – strawberries - topped the billion- dollar valuation mark. The top four crops for 2024 are: 1. Strawberries (maintaining the top spot) with a gross production value of $1,039,220,000, a 15% increase from 2023. 2. Leaf lettuce, including Romaine and other leaf lettuce varieties, at $933,907,000 with an increase of 19% . 3. Head Lettuce at $596,602,000 with an increase of 21%. 4. Broccoli at $578,870,000 with a 23% increase. The 2024 season was characterized by more normal weather patterns that led to a more typical elongated growing season as compared to 2023. Increases in planted acreage and value, market demand for the high v...

Mee Memorial Healthcare System Welcomes Emily Emery-Shea as New Chief Financial Officer

  King City, Calif. — [July 1, 2025] — Mee Memorial Healthcare System (MMHS) is proud to announce the appointment of Emily Emery-Shea as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With over a decade of financial leadership experience in the healthcare sector, Emily brings a proven track record of fiscal stewardship, strategic planning, and operational excellence. Her deep expertise in hospital finance and commitment to community-based healthcare make her an ideal fit for the mission and vision of Mee Memorial. “Emily’s addition to the MMHS leadership team marks an important step forward," said Rena Salamacha, Chief Executive Officer. "Her extensive background with Critical Access Hospitals positions us well to enhance our financial resilience and long-term viability.” In her role as CFO, Emily will oversee financial strategy while advancing Mee Memorial's mission to serve the South County community. "I'm honored to join Mee Memorial at such a pivotal time," said Emery-S...

Final 2024-25 King City NWS Rainfall Numbers

  The National Weather Service reports that the 2024-25 rain season came to an end on Monday night, June 30 and the King City area received 8.39 inches of precipitation. The NWS 2025-26 rain year starts on Tuesday, July 1. 

Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad is Investigating June 27 Death of an Inmate as a Homicide

  SOLEDAD – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Friday, June 27, 2025, death of inmate 26-year-old Jose Rodriguez at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad as a homicide. At approximately 3:34 p.m. staff observed cellmates 36-year-old Steven Miranda and Jose Rodriguez, noting Rodriguez as unresponsive. Staff immediately restrained and removed Miranda from the cell. Medical aid and 911 were initiated for Rodriguez; however, he was pronounced dead by medical staff at 5:04 p.m.   Miranda has been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by the SVSP Investigative Services Unit and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for possible attempted murder felony prosecution. Rodriguez was received from Orange County on October 15, 2019, to serve 15 years for attempted second-degree murder with enhancements for discharge of firearm inhabited dwelling/vehicle/aircraft and participation of criminal g...