KRKC COUNTRY

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Sunday, May 31 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 530 people, while 10 people in the County have died. One-hundred-six of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 18 in King City, 32 in Greenfield, 26 in Gonzales and 30 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 225 are from person to person transmissions, 184 have come from community transmissions, 62 people have been hospitalized, 320 people have recovered, 66 are under investigation, while 203 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

The State Health Department on Saturday, May 30 approved an attestation variance for Monterey County to move into the extension of Stage 2 involving reopening more businesses. This means that Monterey County is allowed to reopen dine-in restaurants, barbershops and hair salons with modifications, car washes and pet grooming businesses, Malls and Swap Meets, Outdoor Museums along with schools and childcare facilities. Earlier last week, the Governor announced that places of worship and shopping malls would be allowed under early stage 2. A new Shelter-in-Place Order was also issued for Monterey County on Friday, May 29 to reflect the changes. Travel for non-essential activities is still not allowed. Apart from worship services, gatherings of people not from your household are not permitted. Businesses such as nail salons, tattoo parlors, gyms, indoor museums, movie theaters, bars and nightclubs, Convention Centers, Public events and gatherings and Entertainment venues are still not

SPCA Monterey County is focused on keeping pets in their homes with their families during this difficult time. The SPCA offers free pet food every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 9 to 11 am at the SPCA. We are also offering a free SPCA Pet Food Bank event in Greenfield on Saturday, May 30, from 10 to 11 am at Patriot Park. Patriot Park is located at 1351 Oak Ave in Greenfield. All food is first come, first served, and completely free thanks to our donors. The event is open to pet owners in Greenfield or any other city. If you need any type of pet food, please come at that time to have at least two weeks of food safely loaded into your vehicle by SPCA team members. To Receive Free Pet Food: Saturday, 5/30, 10 to 11 am at Patriot Park in Greenfield Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 9 to 11 am at the SPCA More locations will be announced soon. Please visit www.SPCAmc.org/pfb. To Help Others: Have food delivered from your favorite pet food company to 10

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, May 29 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 477 people, while 2 more deaths have also been reported bringing the total to 10 in the County. Ninety-nine of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 18 in King City, 23 in Greenfield, 25 in Gonzales and 28 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 196 are from person to person transmissions, 179 have come from community transmissions, 8 people have died, 57 people have been hospitalized, 306 people have recovered, 64 are under investigation, while 173 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

The 16th District Agricultural Board of Directors announced at an emergency teleconference meeting on Thursday, May 28 that the California Mid State Fair in Paso Robles which was scheduled to run from July 22 through August 2, 2020 has been canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak and the state's restrictions on mass gatherings. Officials at the Mid State Fair might hold a virtual online Livestock auction for kids in 4H looking to show off and sell their animals sometime in late July or early August. 

The Greenfield City Council during a regular teleconference meeting held on Tuesday night, May 26 passed a mask ordinance where you have to wear a mask or a face covering if you go into a store or are in a heavily crowded area because of the COVID-19 crisis. A misdemeanor citation will be issued and up to a $1000 fine if anyone is found to violate this ordinance. Kids under 12 years of age do not have to wear a mask.

A brush fire that flared up sometime after 3 pm on Wednesday afternoon, May 27 north by northwest of the Garrison Road exit at Camp Roberts off of Highway 101 Southbound is estimated to have scorched over 4000 acres. The Camp Roberts Fire Department, CAL FIRE SLO and the San Miguel Fire Department responded to contain the blaze between 11 pm and 12 am on Wednesday, May 27. No structures were threatened, no one was injured, while no soldiers were training on the ranges. The fire may have been started by the hot and dry conditions as temperatures peaked at 106 degrees at Camp Roberts when the fire started.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, May 28 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 469 people. Ninety-nine of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 18 in King City, 23 in Greenfield, 25 in Gonzales and 28 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 192 are from person to person transmissions, 174 have come from community transmissions, 8 people have died, 55 people have been hospitalized, 298 people have recovered, 68 are under investigation, while 169 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

SACRAMENTO, May 27, 2020 – Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) applauded the Assembly’s Labor, Health, and Judiciary committees for advancing his first-in-the-nation Farmworker COVID-19 Relief Package, which includes bills AB 2043, AB 2164, and AB 2165, as well as a $25-million Budget Request relating to temporary agricultural housing. The package provides critical protection for these vulnerable essential workers, who risk contracting COVID-19 as they harvest California’s food. “Farmworkers are putting their health and indeed their lives on the line to help keep us fed during this pandemic,” said Rivas. “I am grateful to my Assembly colleagues for supporting this urgently needed relief package. By helping farmworkers stay safe, we also prevent disruptions to California’s food supply.”   “Farm and other agricultural workers often live in crowded households, work shoulder-to-shoulder without personal protective equipment or adequate sanitation facilities, and commute to

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Wednesday, May 27 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 441 people. Ninety-six of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 17 in King City, 22 in Greenfield, 24 in Gonzales and 28 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 187 are from person to person transmissions, 167 have come from community transmissions, 54 people have been hospitalized, 296 people have recovered, 54 are under investigation, while 162 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

A rollover involving a Cal Fire Truck occurred sometime after 12:30 pm on private property off of Foothill Road outside of King City on Wednesday afternoon, May 27. The lone driver in the truck was injured and ended up being transported to a nearby Hospital for treatment, while truck was totaled. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

At the King City City Council meeting on Tuesday night, May 26 the Council approved to make some adjustments to the 2020-21 Fiscal Year Budget. Unfortunately the pool will not be open to the public once the County Health Department says that it's safe to do so. City Manager Steve Adams said that one of the reasons why they will not be reopening the pool this summer once the County Health Department says it's safe to do so is because of the Budget shortfalls they're experiencing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now the City's General Fund is running on a negative balance and the City does not have any Cash Reserves to use. It costs around $120,000 a year to run the public pool which is normally open from May until August. The City is also going to delay work on some Capital Improvement Projects pertaining to Street Improvements, construction on the Downtown Plaza Project and other small maintenance projects. The City has also eliminated new positions that were o

Three residents from South Monterey County were caught and detained in Salinas for a robbery incident that took place on Wednesday morning, May 27 at 12:25 am. Salinas Police Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant located at Sanborn Road and McGowan Drive where the victim had been beat up and pistol whipped. Officers found the victim bleeding from the head and he was transported to Natividad Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. The victim said he was accosted, robbed and pistol whipped by three suspects wearing black hooded sweatshirts. They ended up taking his wallet and backpack before they all ran towards McGowan Circle. Officers conducted an extensive area search for the suspects and were subsequently able to locate three individuals matching the suspects description inside a vehicle parked nearby. They were detained and after they were positively identified as the robbery suspects, they were arrested. Officers fo

PASO ROBLES, CA – On Tuesday, May 26 at approximately 1:47 pm, Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services was dispatched to the area of HWY 46E and Sulfur Springs Road for a vegetation fire. The first fire engine arrived on the scene within approximately 4 minutes. The initial crew reported a quarter acre of grass burning in the riverbed and moving at a moderate rate of spread into trees and brush. Two fire engines, one squad and one Battalion Chief from Paso Robles responded. Under the City’s automatic and mutual aid agreements, one additional engine and one hand crew from CAL FIRE/SLO County immediately responded. A total of 24 firefighters were required to bring the situation under control. Additional assistance was provided by the Paso Robles Police Department. The fire was contained at approximately 2:15 pm. No injuries were reported, while the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Tuesday, May 26 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 429 people. Ninety-three of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 14 in King City, 21 in Greenfield, 24 in Gonzales and 28 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 179 are from person to person transmissions, 163 have come from community transmissions, 54 people have been hospitalized, 284 people have recovered, 56 are under investigation, while 158 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Greenfield, Calif.—For the second time, freshly prepared meals will be distributed to farm worker families suffering during the COVID-19 crisis on Tuesday, May 26 starting at 5 p.m. at Patriot’s Park in Greenfield. Demand was so great last week that the number of meals has increased to 3,000 from 2,000. It is the latest effort by the United Farm Workers and World Central Kitchen in partnership with the UFW Foundation and Cesar Chavez Foundation that is also taking place in other farm worker communities across the Central Coast and Central Valley. The meals, handed to long lines of motorists as their cars drive by the park, are being prepared by local restaurants.   Everyone working on the premises will use masks and follow CDC guidelines. Social distancing will be observed. Since its founding, World Central Kitchen has served more than 17 million meals to those impacted by natural disasters and other crises around the world, including the coronavirus global pandemic. Who:

PASO ROBLES, CA – On Sunday, May 24, at approximately 8:25 AM, officers from the Paso Robles Police Department saw a vehicle driving recklessly eastbound on the Niblick Bridge. The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Ivan SandovalFarias, lost control of his vehicle and collided with 2 other vehicles in the intersection located on the 100 block of Niblick in front of Walmart. Occupants of the other involved vehicles had minor to moderate injuries and one motorist was trapped in her car because of the collision. However, she was rescued by responding officers and the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services. Sandoval fled the scene on foot, but was caught by officers who took him into custody. At the time of his arrest SandovalFarias was on Probation, had a suspended license and was in possession of methamphetamines. He was booked into custody for possession of narcotics, Felony Hit and Run, Felony DUI-Drugs, Driving with a suspended license, and a probation violation. A $500,000.0

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Monday, May 25 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 413 people. Eighty-eight of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 14 in King City, 20 in Greenfield, 23 in Gonzales and 26 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 176 are from person to person transmissions, 162 have come from community transmissions, 53 people have been hospitalized, 278 people have recovered, 34 are under investigation, while 156 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

A vegetation fire flared up east of Soledad off of Metz Road and Highway 146 on Sunday, May 24 at 1 pm. Firefighters from Cal Fire and the Soledad Fire Department put out the blaze at 6:48 pm. The fire scorched over 33 acres. No structures were damaged and no one was injured. The cause of the fire is unknown. 

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, May 22 state that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County have increased by 9 people for a total at 371 people. Seventy-seven of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 13 in King City, 14 in Greenfield, 22 in Gonzales and 23 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 168 are from person to person transmissions, 140 have come from community transmissions, 51 people have been hospitalized, 266 people have recovered, 20 are under investigation, while 149 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

(Paicines, CA) – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Pinnacles National Park is increasing recreational access to bike and foot traffic only because parking areas remain closed. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Beginning on Friday, May 22 Pinnacles National Park will reopen access to bicycle and foot traffic on the east and west sides of the park from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday. Parking areas inside the park remain closed. Limited parking on private land may be available outside of the park on the east side. Parking on roadways outside the park is unsafe and subject to ticketing. Visitors are encouraged to coordinate drop-offs and pick-

Two employees at the Correctional Training Facility which is also referred to as Soledad State prison have tested positive for the coronavirus. The State of California has not reported where these employees worked in the prison or if they interacted with inmates. The CTF houses 5,095 inmates but was designed to hold only 3,312. In March, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported that an employee tested positive for COVID-19 at the Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP). That employee has since recovered and returned to work. No inmates have tested positive at the CTF or the SVSP. A total of 151 inmates have been tested between the two prisons. In addition, 95 CDCR employees have tested positive throughout the state.

The Hartnell College Foundation raised almost $400,000 through an 80-minute online “party” that was inspired when COVID-19 forced cancellation of Hartnell’s most important yearly fundraiser, Party in the Library. This year’s net income of $399,623 from auction purchases, drawing tickets, donations, pledges and sponsorships for the May 9 event via Zoom conference was presented on May 20 to the foundation’s board of directors. That is the second highest total since Party in the Library began 14 years ago. The in-person celebration typically draws about 400 supporters who enjoy gourmet food, wines, live music and more. This year’s online event, with much lower expenses, attracted 100 viewers ― many of whom were dressed up and enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail. In addition to raising support for Hartnell and its students, the event also features presentation of an annual Leadership Award. This year’s honor went to Anne Secker, an attorney, Salinas-area community leader and two-t

SALINAS – On May 23, 2020, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) will host a Farmworker Relief Drive in San Juan Bautista, CA. Congressmember Jimmy Panetta will also be joining the event to volunteer. WHAT:          Farmworker Relief Drive            This is a drop-off event to collect non-perishable foods, diapers, and cleaning supplies. WHEN:             11:00a.m.-12:00p.m., Saturday, May, 23, 2020 WHERE:        Fire Station 4, 24 Polk St., San Juan Bautista, CA WHO:              Co-Hosted by Asm. Rivas (D-Hollister) and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas);  Congressman Jimmy Panetta to volunteer at event with donations expected from around the community and by caravan from San Jose

SALINAS, CA – On Friday, May 22 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) led 72 members of Congress in calling on House leadership to provide or direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide funds to protect farmworkers and their children. “As highlighted by this national emergency, farmworkers are essential and show up to work every day to ensure the continuity of our domestic food supply.  Due to their working and living conditions, many farmworkers and their family members are uniquely susceptible to COVID-19. Since they are at a greater risk of contracting this disease, we risk a significant impact to our food supply chains if farmworkers are not provided with adequate protections,” the members wrote. The text of the letter can be found here or below: Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy: As you consider legislation to address the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the domestic agriculture industry, we urge you to provide or direct the U.S. Depar

SALINAS, CA – On Friday, May 22 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Congressman Peter King (NY-02), and 36 of their colleagues introduced the bipartisan National Guard COVID-19 Earned Benefits Guarantee Act. According to recent reporting, the Administration is considering cutting off most National Guard COVID-19 activations one day short of the threshold required for certain retirement and educational benefits.  Congressman Panetta’s legislation will direct the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to treat a full-time National Guard COVID-19 activation as not shorter than 90 days, thus qualifying these servicemembers for benefits. "Since the early days of this pandemic, National Guard members have stepped up, stepped forward, and stepped into our communities to help serve us and fight this disease.  Any purposeful plan to end their orders a day short so that they don’t receive their proper benefits undermines their service and

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, May 21 state that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County increased by 7 people for a total at 362 people. Seventy-six of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 13 in King City, 13 in Greenfield, 22 in Gonzales and 23 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 168 are from person to person transmissions, 140 have come from community transmissions, 51 people have been hospitalized, 261 people have recovered, 17 are under investigation, while 145 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.The Monterey County Health Department has tested over 3,000 people in their lab for COVID-19 since they began testing on March 6. 

According to a report from the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, May 21 they believe that E. Coli outbreaks in the Fall 2019 were probably caused by cattle grazing near some fields in the Salinas area. The FDA investigated 3 E. Coli outbreaks linked to contaminated romaine lettuce between September of 2019 and January of 2020. In total the FDA said that 188 people became sick during the outbreaks.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Wednesday, May 20 indicate that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County grew by 6 people for a total at 355 people. Seventy-five of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 13 in King City, 12 in Greenfield, 22 in Gonzales and 23 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 165 are from person to person transmissions, 139 have come from community transmissions, 49 people have been hospitalized, 254 people have recovered, 17 are under investigation, while 145 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.The Monterey County Health Department has tested over 3,000 people in their lab for COVID-19 since they began testing on March 6.

SACRAMENTO - On Wednesday, May 20, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) announced the passage of two important housing bills, which he authored, out of their respective Assembly committees. Both bills offer creative and needed solutions for addressing California’s housing shortage, enabling the production of new development and thereby affording new home ownership and affordable housing opportunity that is desperately needed in light of the current pandemic. AB 3153, the Housing Bike & Car-Share Bill, would encourage housing production by allowing developers to meet parking minimum requirements by installing bike and car-share parking. The bill passed out of the Assembly Committee on Local Government, with bipartisan, unanimous support. The vote was 6 to 0. Rivas said, “This vote affirms the need for both more housing production and also the need for more bike and care-share parking in our State. By allowing developers to substitute a limited number of required vehicle par

PASO ROBLES, CA – Since March 16, the Paso Robles Police Department and San Luis Obispo County D.A.’s office have continuously investigated the whereabouts of missing person, 27-year-old Trevon Perry. Between the two agencies, over 15 investigators have been dedicated to locating Perry. Numerous search warrants have been served throughout California in an attempt to collect evidence and to find Perry. Through this intense investigative process, investigators believe Perry’s disappearance is suspicious and suspect foul play. Perry was reported missing by his family on Monday, March 16, 2020. He is 27 years old, 5-08 and weighs a 170 pounds. He was last wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and possibly a black sweatshirt with a black baseball hat. He was last seen by his family leaving his residence with friends. Those same friends claim that he left another residence on foot after attending a small get-together. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Trevon Perry is enc

New numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Tuesday, May 19 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County increased by 5 people for a total at 349 people. Seventy-two of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 13 in King City, 12 in Greenfield, 19 in Gonzales and 23 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 162 are from person to person transmissions, 139 have come from community transmissions, 49 people have been hospitalized, 243 people have recovered, 23 are under investigation, while 149 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.The Monterey County Health Department has tested over 3,000 people in their lab for COVID-19 since they began testing on March 6. 

A brush fire flared up off of Elm Avenue and Elmwood Drive in Greenfield at around 10 am on Tuesday morning, May 19. The Greenfield Fire Department and CAL FIRE were quickly able to contain the blaze within about 10 minutes as it burned about 2 acres. No one was injured and no structures were damaged. The fire was caused by a spark from a mower where a landscaper was abating some weeds. The Greenfield Fire Department reminds residents to abate your weeds safely. Always stop mowing by 10:00 am and have a fire extinguisher and or a shovel with you.

The King City Police Department is  the death of a 32-year-old man who allegedly died of a drug overdose on Monday morning, May 18 at 325 South 3rd Street. According to Officer Joshue Partida, law enforcement along with Emergency Medical Personnel were paged to the scene sometime between 10 am and 11 am to tend to the victim. They were at the residence for over 30 minutes performing numerous lifesaving efforts on him before he was pronounced dead. The cause of his death is under investigation after an autopsy is conducted.

New numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Monday, May 18 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County went slight by 3 people for a total at 344 people. Seventy of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 13 in King City, 12 in Greenfield, 17 in Gonzales and 22 in Soledad, while 6 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 159 are from person to person transmissions, 137 have come from community transmissions, 46 people have been hospitalized, 227 people have recovered, 24 are under investigation, while 138 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.The Monterey County Health Department has tested over 3,000 people in their lab for COVID-19 since they began testing on March 6.

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – Fort Hunter Liggett is taking the helm for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the King City Cemetery. Instead of a public gathering, they will be conducting a Facebook Live Wreath Laying Ceremony broadcast to honor those fallen warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation.  The Ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 25 at 1:00 p.m. The video will be made available after the ceremony on the Fort Hunter Liggett YouTube and Defense Visual Information Distribution Service platforms, as well as their Facebook page. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the King City VFW Post 6747 will not be conducting the ceremony, but they will be placing flags and the wreath rack at the cemetery entrance from 7:00-9:00 a.m. The public is invited to place a wreath to honor a loved one on the wreath rack from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please adhere to the CDC guidelines for social distancing and the wearing of face masks. The Fort Hunter Liggett Garrison Comma

San Lucas, Calif.   – When the COVID-19 pandemic closed school campuses for the remainder of the academic year, San Lucas School Principal and District Superintendent Jessica Riley was disappointed her students wouldn’t have an opportunity to see its new 3-D printer in action. Donated by oil and gas producer Aera Energy – San Ardo, Riley is now using that 3-D printer to show how a small school in rural Monterey County can make a difference in a time of crisis by producing filters for masks used by first responders and essential health-care workers in the Salinas Valley. Acting on an idea first shared by Aera, San Lucas School has partnered with the Monterey County Free Libraries to create masks for first responders and essential health-care workers at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas. Riley makes 20 filters a week with the help of her son Josh, a junior at King City High School. The filters accompany the Montana masks printed by the library system’s  3-D printer. “We want

The Soledad Police Department is searching for more information regarding an incident involving a knife-wielding suspect that occurred off of the 1200 block of Palm Avenue on Friday night, May 15, at around 9:30 p.m. The Soledad Police report that a suspect attacked a 23-year-old victim with a knife at that time, but the victim was able to fire two shots from a revolver against the suspect. The suspect was injured and ran away, while the victim was not injured. Police believe the victim, who is from Soledad, was targeted, but investigators are still trying to figure out if the altercation is gang-related.Anyone with information is ask to to contact Detective Gustavo Gomez at the Soledad Police Department at 831-223-5159.

Monterey, CA – As the Central Coast transitions into spring and summer, CAL FIRE has declared fire season within the State Responsibility Area and Local Responsibility Areas under contract with CAL FIRE, in San Benito and Monterey Counties. This declaration takes effect May 18, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. “The recent heat waves and the hillsides turning golden remind us of the importance of defensible space,” said David Fulcher, CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit Chief. Substantial rainfall this winter and spring has created a significant crop of annual grass that has now cured. The brush and trees have begun their summer transition to highly flammable vegetation. “Please protect your life and property, as well as the lives of firefighters, by creating and maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space. We’re ready for wildfire; are you?” Since January 1, 2020, CAL FIRE and firefighters across the state have already responded to over 1,100 wildfires that have burned over 1,800 acres. “

A grass fire sparked sometime after 3 pm on Sunday, May 17 off of San Lucas Street and Julius Street in San Lucas burning 22 acres. Firefighters from Cal Fire and the South Monterey County Fire Protection District knocked down the blaze within a few hours. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged, while the cause of the fire is unknown. However, after the fire started a power outage took place in San Lucas affecting over 90 customers. P,G&E work crews were able to fully restore power to all of the affected customers sometime between 6 pm and 7 pm on Sunday night, May 17. 

An update from the Monterey County Health Department on Sunday, May 18 reports that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County is now at 341 people. Sixty-eight of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 13 in King City, 12 in Greenfield, 15 in Gonzales and 22 in Soledad, while 6 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 157 are from person to person transmissions, 137 have come from community transmissions, 46 people have been hospitalized, 226 people have recovered, 22 are under investigation, while 138 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.The Monterey County Health Department has tested over 2,900 people in their lab for COVID-19 since they began testing on March 6. 

The Greenfield City Council directed staff at their last meeting on Tuesday night, May 12 into creating an ordinance for their next regular meeting on May 26 that would allow law enforcement to respond to violations of Monterey County's face mask order. This would allow Greenfield Police to issue fines ranging from $50 to $1,000 and a misdemeanor charge. Greenfield Mayor Lance Walker said that the Greenfield PD will begin educating the public about mask requirements on Saturday, May 16.

An update from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, May 15 reports that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County have risen by 5 people for a total of 322, while 2 more deaths have been reported for a total of 8. Sixty of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 11 in King City, 9 in Greenfield, 14 in Gonzales and 20 in Soledad, while 6 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 152 are from person to person transmissions, 132 have come from community transmissions, 46 people have been hospitalized, 163 people have recovered, 16 are under investigation, while 131 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.The Monterey County Health Department has tested over 2,800 people in their lab for COVID-19 since they began testing on March 6. 

Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno from the Monterey County Health Department reported on Friday, May 15 that 2 more people with underlying health issues recently died of COVID-19 bringing the total number of deaths in the County of COVID-19 to 8. while the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus is still at 317 along with 158 recoveries.

SACRAMENTO - On Thursday, May 14, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) responded to Governor Newsom’s 2020-21 May Revision budget proposal to the Legislature, pledging to advocate for the 30th Assembly District and calling on the Federal Government to increase its aid to states. The Governor’s proposal responds to the dramatic economic and revenue impacts of COVID-19 and forecasts a $54.3 billion deficit – necessitating painful cuts to state programs, a 10% pay cut for state workers, and the cancellation of new state initiatives. The $203 billion proposal is nearly 9% smaller than the budget plan Newsom laid out in January, and it relies on cash reserves, as well as federal stimulus funds that have not yet materialized, to minimize reductions. Without more money from the Federal Government, an additional $14 billion in cuts would be triggered. Rivas said, “California faces a severe budget shortfall due to the hardships caused by COVID-19. Our State Constitution requires us to

County Officials provided a first hand glimpse to the media of 15 trailers set up as an Alternative care site at San Lorenzo Park in King City on Thursday, May 14 for people recovering from COVID-19 who are unable to self isolate at their residence. Each trailer which was provided by the state can have between 4 and 8 people, while the total facility can house up to 120 people who test positive for the disease. The County is also getting ready to put up more facilities for COVID-19 patients to house in at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City and Sherwood Hall in Salinas.

An update from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, May 14 reports that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County increased by 9 people for a total of 317. Fifty-six of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 9 in King City, 9 in Greenfield, 14 Gonzales and 19 in Soledad, while 5 cases are from others cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 150 are from person to person transmissions, 131 have come from community transmissions, 45 people have been hospitalized, 158 people have recovered, 6 people have died, 17 are under investigation, while 128 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.The Monterey County Health Department has tested over 2,800 people in their lab for COVID-19 since they began testing on March 6. 

SACRAMENTO - On Thursday, May 14, the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee passed AB 3005, The Expedited Dam Safety for Silicon Valley Act, authored by Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), by a 14 to 0 vote. The bill received strong bipartisan support for important changes in law that will help facilitate the expedited and expert construction of the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project in Santa Clara County – a project that is urgently needed to ensure the safety and water supply of the region. “Today’s unanimous vote by the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee shows bipartisan support for expediting the life safety, water supply, and environmental benefits of the Anderson Dam project,” said Assemblymember Rivas. “It also demonstrates the Legislature’s readiness to accelerate infrastructure projects that provide timely economic stimulus to restore California’s economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.” Built in 1950 and owned by the Santa Clara Valle