KRKC COUNTRY

The King City City Council was in regular session on Tuesday night, September 25 at City Hall. Mayor Mike LeBarre proclaimed the week of September 24 as Monterey County Binational Health Week, while Joe Gonzales from the South County YMCA branch gave a presentation regarding what they've been up to. In other business, the Council approved to adopt a Resolution amending the Facade Enhancement Grant Program guidelines to allow grants for projects on the 200 block of Broadway Street and to approve grants that would be reimbursed at a later time when and if funding becomes available. The Council also approved and authorized Mayor LeBarre to sign a letter of support for the GRID Alternatives application to the Community Solar Pilot Program Request for Proposals and also tentatively approved the proposed use of City property located adjacent to the Wastewater Treatment Plant for location of the solar project.

On Tuesday, September 25, Paso Robles Police Officers responded to Daniel Lewis Middle School at around 4 pm to investigate a report that a man had exposed himself to a young girl on her way home from school. The middle school aged girl told police that the man exposed himself to her before he drove away in a small 2-door blue sedan. She described the man as white and in his 30s, with slicked back brown hair, and a stubbly beard. The suspect was last seen driving east on Creston Road at approximately 4 pm. According to the young witness, the incident happened after school directly in front of the campus on Creston Road. The suspect stopped his car upon seeing the girl and asked her for directions. When the girl began to answer the suspect’s question, he exposed himself to her. The suspect immediately left the area and police have yet to identify a suspect. The PRPD is working with its new School Resource Officer and School District officials to keep students safe and secure. Addition

Pinnacles National Park announced on Wednesday that they'll receive a field trip grant in the amount of $5,200 for the 2018-2019 school year from the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. This grant will be used to help underserved schools with the cost of transportation to Pinnacles National Park. This grant is part of the Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program which creates pathways for kids to explore and connect with national park experiences. Classes from local Title I will be eligible to apply for the grant, which reimburses schools for some of their transportation costs of getting to and from the park for educational field trips. More information about scheduling trips can be found at www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/education.

Many people were vocal at the Greenfield City Council Meeting on Tuesday night, September 25 regarding the appeal of the City of Greenfield Planning Commission's Adoption of a Resolution approving the design review for the development of a 168-unit high density Agricultural worker employee housing project located at 360 Walnut Avenue. After over 40 minutes of public comments, the Council approved to continue the public hearing until their next regular session in October. Later in the meeting the Council passed unanimously to make interim City Manager Paul Wood the permanent City Manager for the City of Greenfield effective immediately. The Greenfield Fire Department also officially became a part of the city operations as a badge pinning ceremony took place for all of the firefighters who were in attendance.

A produce truck received some major damage as it landed on it's side driving eastbound on Highway 198 off of Lockwood and San Lucas Road just outside of San Lucas at around 3:45 pm on Tuesday, September 25. The CHP said that the accident was only a few miles east of Highway 101. The driver only received minor injuries from the crash. The cause of the accident is unknown. 

A fire broke out sometime after 2 pm on Tuesday, September 25 in the back of a Semi Truck that was heading southbound on Highway 101 near the Jolon Road exit in King City. According to the CHP, the driver pulled over to the side of Highway 101 to try and extinguish the flames himself in his rig, but he was unsuccessful in doing so and a local Fire Department arrived onto the scene to put out the blaze and also to make sure that the fire didn't scorch a lot of vegetation on the side of Highway 101 South. The CHP was also on site to investigate and assist with traffic which was backed up for over an hour. No one was injured. The cause of the fire in the back of the Semi is unknown.

Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on Tuesday, September 25 that 24-year-old Angel DeJesus Ramirez of Greenfield was sentenced to 3 years in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for 1 count of a lewd act upon a child for having sexual relations with a 13-year-old girl. The incident occurred on August 10, 2017 at the “green bridge” in the city of Greenfield. The defendant and the 13- year old victim had sexual relations in the defendant’s estranged wife’s car which Ramirez had stolen earlier that evening. In the early morning hours of August 10, 2017, a CHP officer observed the stolen car as it was being driven erratically by the defendant’s 18-year-old cousin. The defendant, who was a passenger in the rear seat with the victim, was determined to be on felony probation for domestic violence which included a no alcohol term. The CHP determined Ramirez’ blood alcohol level to be .18% at the time of the stop. Judge Mark E. Hood sentenced Ramire

The Monterey County Sustainability Working Group (MCSWG) is encouraging local leaders, growers and innovators to attend a meeting on Thursday, September 27, 2018 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Cal State Monterey Bay Salinas City Center in Downtown Salinas to discuss concerns affecting the area involving recycling. You must RSVP to attend this workshop by calling 831-594-7972.

If people in South Monterey County and beyond are looking for something to do this weekend then the 38th annual Salinas International Airshow located at 37 Mortensen Avenue will give them that opportunity this Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30 beginning at 12 pm. The gates will open at 9 am. Executive Director Harry Wardwell said that the theme to this year's 2 day event is "Thunder and Glory" featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds who will be flying their F-16 jets over Salinas and the Salinas Valley. Wardwell stated that other planes and jets that will be performing this weekend at the Airshow in Salinas include some antique planes, along with some B-17s and B-51s. General Admission is $20 per adult, while kids 12 and under are free.

PASO ROBLES, CA – As previously reported on Monday, September 24, officers from the Paso Robles Police Department responded to an interrupted burglary on the 1200 block of Katherine Court on Thursday, September 20. The owner of the residence had returned home and discovered a Hispanic male adult, later identified by surveillance footage as 20-year-old Jose Armando Montes Guillen, inside of her bedroom. Guillen fled with a black backpack containing stolen items from the residence. On Saturday, September 22, officers from the Paso Robles Police Department received a citizen tip that Jose Armando Montes Guillen was seen on the 1600 block of Christina Court. Officers responded to the area and immediately located Guillen attempting to hide behind a parked vehicle. Guillen was taken into custody and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail for felony burglary. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information about this crime is urged to call the Paso Robles Polic

On Thursday, September 20th, 2018, officers from the Paso Robles Police Dedepartment responded to an interrupted burglary on the 1200 block of Katherine Court. The owner of the residence had returned home and discovered an HMA, later identified by surveillance footage as 20-year-old Jose Armando Montes Guillen, inside of her bedroom. Guillen had a black backpack full of the victim’s belongings and fled out of an open bedroom window. Guillen lives in the same area and is believed to be responsible for additional burglaries within the neighborhood. Guillen is described as an HMA who 20 years old, 5-11,  240 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. Guillen is known to frequent the local motels in San Luis Obispo County. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jose Armando Montes Guillen is encouraged to call the Paso Robles Police Department at 805-237-6464. Persons wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers' 24-hour hotline at 549-STOP or by texting

From 5pm to 11pm on Friday night, September 21 officers with the King City Police Department in conjunction with Agents from the State of California Alcohol Beverage Control and with the assistance of the Monterey County Friday Night Live program conducted a sting operation targeting the sales of alcohol to minors. The operation visited 9 locations and issued citations to the following persons for Furnishing Alcohol to Minors in violation of 25658(a) B&P that included: 400 Block of South First St- 37-year-old Nikunjkumar Patel of King City 100 Block of Bassett- 27-year-old Alijandra Carpio Mojica of King City 20-year-old Jesus Adolfo Guzman Cruz of King City- Minor in possession of Alcohol (25662(a) B&P) 100 Block of Broadway- 44-year-old Irma Ochoa Aguirre of King City 20-year-old Guillermo Calderon Soto of King City Anyone with further information in regards to this operation is encouraged to call the King City Police Department at (831) 386-5980 or the WeTip l

On Thursday morning, September 20 at around 12:22 am the Pine Canyon Fire Department along with CAL FIRE BEU, CALFIRE San Luis Obispo County, the San Ardo Fire Department, the Lockwood Fire Department, the Monterey County Regional Fire Department, and the Camp Roberts Fire Department responded to a commercial vehicle that caught fire off of Highway 101 Southbound and Jolon Road near Bradley. The blaze from the commercial vehicle that was carrying a lot of produce was put out causing a 1/2 acre vegetation fire which was also knocked down. The vehicle was destroyed in the blaze and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire in the commercial vehicle is unknown at this time.

Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on Thursday, September 20 that Judge Julie R. Culver sentenced 34-year-old Rosa Ramirez of King City, to 6 years in prison for committing child abuse causing great bodily injury. The charge is considered a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes law. On September 5 of 2017 at around 2:12 pm, officers from the King City Police Department and American Medical Response medical staff were dispatched to Ramirez’s residence with a report that a 4-month-old baby, was unconscious and not breathing. Upon arriving on the scene, Ramirez informed officers that she was the baby's babysitter and was watching over the baby while the baby’s parents were at work. Ramirez told the officers that the baby began to shake and foam at the mouth, and that she didn’t know what happened to her. The baby was transported to Mee Memorial Hospital and then to Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford Medical Center for treatment. Doctors disco

A number of people in Greenfield were on hand to ask questions and present concerns to Monterey Salinas Transit officials at a public hearing held at the Greenfield Civic Center on Wednesday night, September 19. MST officials stated that they will have to make various cuts if State operating SB 1 transportation dollars are discontinued as a result of voters passing Proposition 6 in the upcoming November 6, 2018 Midterm election. MST Assistant General Manager Hunter Harvath stated that some of the changes MST would have to make if Proposition 6 passes in November are evenly spread around their service area that would involve some areas in South Monterey County, the Peninsula and Salinas. 30 of the 60 buslines that they operate would be subject to some kind of service reduction which could mean that instead of a bus reaching it's destination every 15 minutes they could arrive every 30 minutes and instead of operating until 9 pm they would stop bus service at 7 pm. Harvath also sai

The Salinas Valley State Prison Facility A Veterans Group recently donated patriotic artwork to the Monterey Veterans Transition Center which raised $945.00. A donation ceremony will be held on Facility A to highlight this accomplishment on Friday afternoon, September 21 from 1:30 pm to 2 pm at the Salinas Valley State Prison. You must RSVP by Thursday, September 20 by calling (831) 678-5554.

The King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is getting ready to host the Community Resource Fair on Thursday, September 20 from 4pm to 7pm at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City. Chamber Director Janet Bessemer said that this will be the first time that the Community Resource Fair will be held during the Fall Carnival at the Fairgrounds as many businesses and non-profit groups will be on hand with information regarding what they have to offer.

Monterey County Animal Services is asking for the public’s help to find a puppy that was stolen from the county shelter on Hitchcock Road on Friday night, September 14. Shelter workers found the young dog missing early Saturday morning, September 15. It appears this puppy was targeted by thieves, who broke into the shelter overnight and kidnapped the young dog, a 3 1/2 month old male Labrador mix, black with white on his paws and chest. Salinas Police are investigating the break-in and shelter workers are reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the thieves. The puppy had already been adopted by a local family and was scheduled to go home with them during the week of September 16. Shelter workers are urging whoever stole the dog to return it so it can go home with it's rightful family. If you have any information that might help, please call Monterey County Animal Services at 831-769-8850 or the Salinas Police Department.

King City, CA - Come to the Fall Carnival at the fairgrounds in King City, September 20 -23, to celebrate the harvest and fall season with affordable family fun all while helping to raise funds for King City K-8 schools, the Salinas Valley Fair and other non-profit organizations.  This year’s event will feature carnival rides, games and food from Midway of Fun.  In addition to the carnival rides, guests at the event can check-out  the Hay Maze, watch blacksmith demonstrations, purchase pumpkins from a local 4-H Club,  create at the “Makers Space”, explore farm themed play areas  and shop from the local vendors.  And, the best part, admission to the Fall Carnival is free.  “This is our second year hosting a carnival, in the fall, at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds,” said TJ Plew, CEO of the Salinas Valley Fair.  “This year we added music, hands-on activities for kids and opportunities for non-profits to fundraise, all in response to feedback provided by last year’s attendees”.  N

MONTEREY COUNTY – The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) announced that commissioners from the California Transportation Commission will be in Gonzales on September 19-20 to meet with local officials and residents to discuss current and future transportation needs that address safety improvements and the economic vibrancy of the region. Debbie Hale, the Executive Director of TAMC, said, “This is a great opportunity for us and for them. It’s not often that we get a visit from the Commissioners; and with this visit, they get to hear directly from the community about what our needs are in Monterey County, which are often different from those in more urban communities.” The Commission is the primary decision-maker for California funding of transportation projects. According to Ms. Hale, “The Commission allocated $19 million to the Imjin Parkway project through SB 1 funds and they will be able to fund US 101 improvements south of Salinas if the new gas taxes remain in plac

Employees of Hartnell College, residents in  King City and people from surrounding areas in South Monterey County attended an open forum at the King City Education Center on Wednesday night, September 12 to talk about a Measure T expansion project pertaining to the Center. Voters in the Hartnell Community College District approved Measure T, a $167 million local bond measure, in November of 2016. Hartnell College Education Services Dean for South Monterey County and for the King City Education Center Mustafa Ghous is looking forward to the completion of the new addition. The work is expected to be finished by the summer of 2020. The next open forum the Hartnell College Facilities Planning and Construction Management Department will hold is scheduled for Wednesday night, September 19 at 6 pm at Hartnell College in Salinas.

A brush fire that broke out east of Greenfield off of Metz Road and Chalom Creek on Thursday afternoon, September 14 at around 3:30 pm is 100% contained. According to Cal Fire PIO John Spooner, the blaze scorched over 830 acres, no one was injured and no structures were damaged. CAL FIRE had 2 Battalion Chiefs, an Air Attack, 2 Air Tankers, 1 helicopter, 6 fire engines, 2 bulldozers, 2 hand crews, and an investigator battling the fire. Also assisting were the South Monterey County Fire Protection District and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The cause of the fire is under investigation. CAL FIRE wants to remind the public that this is the time of year when wildfire fuels are most easily ignited. Greater care and judgement must be exercised when working or playing in the wildland areas.

The King City Police Department is warning people that there is a Telephone scam going around telling residents they've won money through Publishers Clearing House and need to wire an amount of cash to an account to pay fees and taxes before receiving the big prize! Please be aware of this scam happening in King City and the surrounding areas. Publishers Clearing House does not call you and ask you to send money to receive a big prize. The scammers are calling from an 876 area code number. Anyone with information in regards to this is encouraged to call the King City Police Department at (831) 386-5980 or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME. Your call may remain completely anonymous.

Superintendent and President Dr. Willard Lewallen of Hartnell College urges interested community members in King City, other south Monterey County communities and beyond to attend the first of 3 upcoming open forums on Measure T projects on Wednesday night, September 12 at 6 pm in the King City Education Center, room 109. The Hartnell Facilities Planning and Construction Management Department has also scheduled forums for Sept. 19 at Hartnell College in Salinas and Sept. 26 at the Soledad High School Community Room. All 3 forums will conclude by 8 pm. The forum in King City will focus on progress toward an expansion of Hartnell’s King City Education Center located at 117 North 2nd Street. The 12,200-square foot addition, scheduled for completion by the summer of 2020, will include science-related facilities to better serve south county students. Following the presentation, members of the public will have a chance to ask questions. Voters in the Hartnell Community College District a

A brush fire broke out off of Sargeant Canyon Road near San Ardo sometime after 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, September 11. Cal Fire officials and other fire crews were able to fully contain the blaze within 3 to 4 hours as it burned around 6 acres. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged. The cause of the fire is unknown. 

The CHP released more information late Tuesday afternoon, September 11 about a fatal accident that involved a truck and a train on railroad tracks near Chualar west of Highway 101 and on Esperanza Road at around 7 pm on Monday night, September 10. The crash resulted in the death of 36-year-old Jose Emmanuel Chavarin Ruiz of Salinas who was driving a 2011 Ford F-150 and traveling westbound on a private dirt road west of US-101. The Ford F-150 Ruiz was driving belonged to his employer Triangle Farms Incorporated on Natividad Road in Salinas. A 1994 Amtrak Train was heading northbound west of US-101. The 11 car passenger Amtrak Train was traveling from Los Angeles to Sacramento through Monterey County. For unknown reasons the Ford F-150 attempted to cross the railroad tracks directly in the path of the Amtrak Train. The railroad tracks at this intersection is controlled by a stop sign. The impact caused fatal injuries to Ruiz. Alcohol and or drugs are not suspected to be a factor at thi

The El Grito Mexican Independence Day celebration is coming up on Sunday, September 16 in King City. A parade will kick things off on Broadway Street beginning at 11 am with a Festival to follow until around 5 pm at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds. Salinas Valley Fair CEO TJ Plew said that there will be a lot of folklore dancing and an el grito shout with the Father from St. John's Church in King City. In addition, 2 people from the community will be recognized during the event. Plew stated that the El Grito celebration has been held in King City for several years during the same weekend of the weekly flea market at the Fairgrounds.

District 20 Congressman Jimmy Panetta announced on Monday, September 10 that 2 rural development grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been awarded to California’s 20th Congressional District. The El Pajaro Community Development Corporation received a grant totaling $40,000 and the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association received a grant totaling $38,000 from the USDA. The grants will be used to increase economic security in the region, and provide skill building and business education opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. The grant received by the El Pajaro Community will help underserved micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and farmers in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties, while the grant received by the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association will help create 10 new jobs and save 20 rural jobs in the area.

Over 50 people attended a ribbon cutting ceremony off of 638 Broadway Street to celebrate the completion of phase 1 of the expansion project of Sun Street Centers in King City on Friday, September 7. Sun Street Centers has been providing drug and alcohol abuse addiction services in Monterey County for over 50 years and CEO Anna Foglia is very excited that the 1st phase of this project is finished. The work was funded through a $1.4 million grant to purchase and remodel the property from the Central California Alliance for Health and they received a grant of $5 million from the State Board of Community Corrections to start up the services at Sun Street Centers in King City. In addition, the City of King contributed $200,000 for this project, while Sun Street Centers also received other financial help from the Federal Government, Monterey County and local donors.  Foglia said that she's expecting the Womens and Mens residential portion of the project involving phase 2 to be complet

2 drivers from Monterey County are lucky to be alive after a 2 vehicle collision that occurred in Soledad on Thursday morning, September 6. According to CHP Public Information Officer Jessica Madueno, the accident took place at 6:25 am off of Gloria Camphora Road as 41-year-old Julio Guerrero of Salinas was heading eastbound in a 2006 Honda Odyssey and 54-year-old Carolina Perez of Soledad was traveling westbound in a 2007 Pontiac G6 which caught on fire. Both vehicles collided East of Highway 101 receiving major damage and had to be towed from the scene, while both drivers picked up minor injuries. Alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the accident. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated held their regular luncheon and meeting at Lawrence's Restaurant in King City with 3 guest speakers on Tuesday afternoon, September 4 as the Midterm General election is coming up in 2 months. California Secretary of State candidate Mark Meuser encouraged people at the meeting to make their voices heard and that they encourage anyone they know to go out and vote in November. State Senate District 12 candidate Rob Poythress was unable to attend the meeting and luncheon due to the fact that his brother unexpectedly passed away on Monday night, September 3. However, Poythress's Campaign Manager Matthew Dobler spoke in Poythress's place and feels that they're making very good progress with people on the campaign trail face to face. California State District 30 State Assemblyman candidate Neil Kitchens feels very confident that he'll defeat Robert Rivas in November.

On Tuesday, September 4 at around 4:20pm officers from the King City Police Department and with the assistance of the Greenfield Police Department were dispatched to a business on the 800 block of Broadway Street for a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred. Upon the officers arrival it was determined a male Hispanic took an undetermined amount of cash from the cash register at knifepoint from a clerk. The suspect then fled on a bicycle northbound on Canal Street and out of sight. Investigators from the Major Crimes Unit were called to investigate the incident. The ensuing investigation revealed that the suspect entered the store, asked the clerk for a pack of cigarettes and when the clerk turned around, the suspect pointed a knife at the clerk and demanded the clerk open the cash register. The clerk fearing for her safety opened the cash register and the suspect took an undetermined amount of cash from the register. The Investigators were able to identify the male suspec

On Monday morning, September 3 at 8:40 am, officers with the King City Police Department saw a suspicious grey Honda parked on the 900 block of South First Street in King City. The officers ran the license plate through the California State Law Enforcement Database and it was listed as stolen out of Merced Coounty in the City of Merced. The vehicle was occupied by the driver, 27-year-old Mariah Dennison and 26-year-old Ernesto Barrios of Merced, CA.. Both were taken into custody without incident by the officers, were booked into the Monterey County Jail and were charged with Possession of a vehicle without the owner’s consent and Possession of a stolen vehicle. Barrios also had a misdemeanor warrant for Possession of Dangerous Drugs issued out of Merced County Superior Court. Anyone with further information in regards to this case is encouraged to call Officer J. Bernal at the King City Police Department at (831) 386-5980 or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME.  Your call may remain co