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38-Year-Old Arizona Man Dies Following Multi-Agency Search and Rescue Efforts at Sand Dollar Beach on October 13

  On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, just after 1:00 P.M. Deputies from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, along with fire and ambulance personnel, responded to Sand Dollar Beach, located at 69000 block of Highway 1 along the South Monterey County coastline, for a report of a missing adult scuba diver. A large-scale, multi-agency response was initiated, including personnel from Big Sur Fire, Cambria Ambulance, California State Parks Lifeguards, the U.S. Forest Service, and a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter. Once first responders arrived on scene, it was learned that the missing person was a swimmer and not a scuba diver. Upon initial search, a lifeguard was deployed in the water near the last point seen, and additional personnel searched the nearby shoreline. The missing adult male was located near the rocky coastline on the south end of Sand Dollar Beach. The male was unresponsive, and life-saving measures were administered. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter hoisted the individual from the ...
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Monterey County Voters are Encouraged to Vote Early at a “Books & Ballots” Location Ahead of the November 3, 2026 Midterm General Election

  Salinas, CA – Monterey County Elections announces a series of accessible, community‑based voting opportunities throughout the county for the November 3, 2026, Midterm General Election.   The “Books & Ballots” program, hosted in partnership with local libraries and community locations, invites residents to vote in-person, drop off ballots, or register to vote at convenient neighborhood sites. In addition to serving our current voters, there will be a kid’s ballot for Monterey County’s future voters!   These flexible early voting centers will be available on the following dates:       October 15 – CSUMB Library 3054 Divarty Street, Seaside | 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.       October 20 — Gonzales Library     630 5th Street, Gonzales | 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.       October 21 — Soledad Library     401 Gabilan Drive, Soledad | 1 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.       October 22 — Greenfield Library     315 El Camino...
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2 Men Arrested in Soledad Following Altercation at a Local Bar on October 10; Firearm and Narcotics Recovered

  On Saturday night, October 10, 2026, at approximately 11:12 p.m., Soledad Police Department officers responded to the 200 block of West Street regarding a report of a physical altercation involving multiple individuals. Officers arrived on scene within minutes of receiving the call and quickly intervened to prevent further escalation. During the investigation, officers determined that 44-year-old Francisco Marmolejo of Soledad and 49-year-old Marco Sanchez of Watsonville had arrived at the location together in the same vehicle and became involved in a physical altercation with another individual. Further investigation revealed that Marmolejo was on parole. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson firearm, loaded magazines, and approximately 0.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Both Marmolejo and Sanchez were arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on various charges and warrants. Marmolejo specifically was charg...
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“TAMC, the City of King, and Sol Treasures to Host ‘King City Community Art Walk’ on October 15"

  MONTEREY COUNTY – The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), in partnership with the City of King and Sol Treasures, is hosting a community art walk to celebrate new sidewalk art marking safe routes to schools in King City. The art walk will begin at 4:30pm, Thursday, October 15, 2026, in front of the King City Pools, 401 Division St, King City. The artwork is funded through a state Active Transportation Program grant and Measure X, and is part of TAMC’s Safe Routes to School program. In Spring 2026, the Transportation Agency released a call for art geared toward local Elementary School, Middle School, High School/College, Adult Amateur Artist (18+), and Professional Artists. A community steering committee created community ballots with the artwork that best met the criteria in the call for art, and then the greater community had a chance to vote on their favorite artwork.    Seven professional sidewalk art murals are now installed on the sidewalks marking sa...
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Soledad Fire Department Earns ISO Class 2 Rating; Ranking Among the Top 7% of Fire Departments Nationwide

  SOLEDAD, Calif. — The City of Soledad announced on Friday, October 9 that the Soledad Fire Department has achieved an ISO Class 2 Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating, effective September 2026, improving from its previous Class 3 rating. This achievement places Soledad among approximately 7% of fire departments evaluated nationwide that have earned a Class 2 classification, recognizing the City’s continued investment in fire protection, emergency response capabilities, and public safety. The ISO Public Protection Classification program evaluates a community’s ability to provide effective fire protection through a comprehensive assessment conducted approximately every three to five years. The evaluation examines the local fire department's capabilities, water supply infrastructure, emergency communications, and community risk reduction efforts. “This is a huge accomplishment for a City and Fire Department our size,” said Jason Luckenbach, Assistant Chief of the Soledad Fi...
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Wreaths Across America Booth will be in King City on October 17

  Wreaths Across America, sponsored by Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will have a booth at the King City Center near Safeway from 10am-2pm on Saturday, October 17.  Information and application forms to donate for a wreath will be available at the booth. A Donation for a wreath this year is $17 each. The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony to place wreaths on Veterans graves will be held at the King City Cemetery on Saturday, December 19, 2026. For more information about Wreaths Across America, call Kathy Imamura, (408) 802-4437.
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Prisoner Serving Life is Convicted of Brutal Inmate Attack at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad

  SALINAS, California – Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on October 6 that Ray Gutierrez Jr. was convicted by a jury of assault by a life prisoner and personal infliction of great bodily injury. The Honorable Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey presided over the trial. On May 6 of 2022, Gutierrez, a state prison inmate serving a life sentence, stabbed his cellmate with a prison weapon approximately 40 times in the face, head, and neck. The victim survived, but only after significant intervention by the medical professionals at the Natividad Medical Center. Gutierrez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2026. The defendant faces 27 years to life plus an additional 13 years in prison to be served consecutive to his current 50 year to life sentence This case was investigated by the Investigative Services Unit of Salinas Valley State Prison and the District Attorney Investigators assigned to the Prison Prosecution Unit.
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