KRKC COUNTRY

1 vehicle crashed into a power pole off of San Vicente Road and Gabilan Drive in Soledad sometime overnight on Sunday morning, February 28. The intersection at that location was closed for at least a few hours until PG&E work crews were able to complete the repairs to the power pole as over 200 customers in that area had no electricity for an undetermined amount of time. No injuries were reported, while the cause of the accident is unknown. More information will be provided once it becomes available.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Saturday, February 27 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 42,261 people, while 41,876 people have been released from isolation and 222,309 people have been tested in the County. 12,698 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,171 in King City, 2,711 in Greenfield, 6,044 in Soledad, 1,344 in Gonzales, 106 in San Ardo, 194 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas, while 17 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 26 cases reported in Bradley and 22 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,504 are from person to person transmissions, 5,031 have come from community transmissions, 38 are currently hospitalized, 328 people have died, 23,983 are under investigation and 3,440 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Participation by scores of Hartnell College nursing students in administering the COVID-19 vaccine in Monterey County and educating residents on the need for vaccination will soon expand to include the school’s respiratory care and EMT programs. The role of vocational and registered nursing students, which began in December, will grow exponentially in coming weeks as the college assists Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS) in giving 4,500 vaccine doses to agricultural workers and other high-priority groups. Dr. Sonja Sheppard, who is coordinating the collaboration in her job as associate director of nursing and allied health, said nursing students continue to answer the call. They earn clinical hours that count toward their graduation but are not paid for their work. Many have completed multiple shifts — providing information, giving injections, screening vaccine recipients or observing for adverse effects after the shots. “I’ve been really touched by their response,” Dr. S

King City, Calif. – King City Rotary has recognized Steve Adams with its highest honor, Rotarian of the Year. The award recognizes Adams’ constant commitment and active involvement to the club and community. Adams has been a Rotarian for 20 years and has served as president for both the King City and Pismo Beach – Five Cities clubs. During his term as president of King City Rotary in 2019-20, he helped start the Interact Club at King City High School and secured a grant for the students to paint a mural on the campus depicting the theme of “make a difference in the world.” “Steve was essential in getting the Interact Club off the ground. He volunteered endless hours and took an active role in working with the students,” said Oscar Avalos, current president of King City Rotary. “It was fantastic to see the local Interact students come together and begin to make a real impact in the community as they learned the Rotary values of service above self.” Under Adams’ leadership the club also

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, February 26 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 42,199 people, while 41,796 people have been released from isolation and 221,896 people have been tested in the County. 12,685 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,167 in King City, 2,711 in Greenfield, 6,038 in Soledad, 1,341 in Gonzales, 106 in San Ardo, 194 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas, while 17 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 26 cases reported in Bradley and 22 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,496 are from person to person transmissions, 5,033 have come from community transmissions, 38 are currently hospitalized, 328 people have died, 23,931 are under investigation and 3,439 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, February 25 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) joined his House colleagues in passing H.R. 5, the Equality Act. The bill would provide explicit, permanent protections against discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, federal funding, credit, education, and jury service. It also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federal funding and public accommodations. “No one should be denied opportunity because of who they are or whom they love,” said Congressman Panetta. “The Equality Act will provide civil rights protections that LGBTQ Americans have gone too long without at the federal level. As a member of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus, I will continue to fight for those of the LGBTQ community so that they have an equal opportunities on the Central Coast and across the country.” While California already has similar nondiscrimination pr

A truck fire involving a Chevy Pickup occurred off of Old Stage Road and Chualar Road in Chualar at 11:27 am on Thursday, February 25. The fire was quickly put out by local Firefighters in the area and the truck ended up being towed. No one was injured, while the cause of the fire is unknown.

Applications for King City July 4th fireworks booths are now available online at the City's website at www.kingcity.com under "Documents and Forms – City Manager." The deadline for submitting applications to City Hall is March 18, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Three permits will be available for non-profit organizations to utilize for community fundraising. If the City receives more than three applications, permits will be awarded through a lottery selection process. There is an application fee of $35 and permit fee of $375. Fireworks may be sold from noon June 28 through July 4. The lottery to select the applicant will take place on April 13. Contact King City City Hall at 831-386-5925 for more information.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, February 25 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 42,138 people, while 41,737 people have been released from isolation and 221,501 people have been tested in the County. 12,644 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,164 in King City, 2,703 in Greenfield, 6,013 in Soledad, 1,338 in Gonzales, 106 in San Ardo, 192 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas, while 17 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 25 cases reported in Bradley and 23 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,471 are from person to person transmissions, 5,033 have come from community transmissions, 39 are currently hospitalized, 327 people have died, 23,937 are under investigation and 3,434 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Wednesday, February 24 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 42,031 people, while 41,682 people have been released from isolation and 220,979 people have been tested in the County. 12,646 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,156 in King City, 2,697 in Greenfield, 6,028 in Soledad, 1,339 in Gonzales, 106 in San Ardo, 192 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas, while 17 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 25 cases reported in Bradley and 23 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,336 are from person to person transmissions, 5,094 have come from community transmissions, 41 are currently hospitalized, 323 people have died, 23,849 are under investigation and 3,432 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

59-year-old Richard Ruiz of Salinas who was arrested and charged with killing his girlfriend at a residence in Salinas and evading officers in a high speed pursuit that ended in Soledad on Wednesday night, February 17 pleaded not guilty in court on Monday, February 22. Ruiz's girlfriend was reported missing by family members who stated that they had not heard from her in several days. She was later found dead at a home located on Great Island Street near Beacon Hill Drive in Salinas. Police said that they tried searching for Ruiz and found him in the Gilroy area which is where he began leading officers on a high speed chase that ended in Soledad. The identity of the victim has not been released yet. Ruiz's next hearing is set for Tuesday, March 9.

MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, February 21 through Saturday, February 27. Highway 101: First Street – Jolon Road, King City: Long-Term Closure There will be one lane closure along northbound and southbound Highway 101 from First Street to Jolon Road for roadway excavation and pavement work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. Highway 101: San Antonio River Bridge, King City: Long Term There will be one lane closure along northbound and southbound Highway 101 at the San Antonio Bridge for bridge and paving work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Message and directional signs will be in place to assist motorists traveling in the area. Motorists are advised to expect delays of up to five minutes and to allow extra time for their travel. Please keep in mind that construction work is weather-dependent.

Hartnell College and it's partners on Wednesday, February 24 will begin a series of seven two-hour virtual career and job fairs through April covering a wide range of academic fields and featuring opportunities for both permanent hiring and internships. The college is presenting the afternoon and evening events with the Salinas Valley Adult Education Consortium and the Monterey County Workforce Development Board to serve high school, community college and adult education students, as well as job seekers not in school. In addition to job and internship openings, employers will highlight the most essential soft and technical skills for their fields and share their own career pathways. The first half of the fair will include special announcements, a welcome and PowerPoint presentation from each employer presenter. The second half will include Zoom breakout rooms in smaller groups with employee presenters. The following are the dates and subjects for the Spring 2021 Central Coast &

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Tuesday, February 23 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 42,016 people, while 41,614 people have been released from isolation and 220,554 people have been tested in the County. 12,644 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,156 in King City, 2,696 in Greenfield, 6,027 in Soledad, 1,340 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 192 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 17 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 25 cases reported in Bradley and 23 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,336 are from person to person transmissions, 5,095 have come from community transmissions, 40 are currently hospitalized, 323 people have died, 24,015 are under investigation and 3,390 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

The Greenfield Fire Protection District will be holding a public hearing for the purposes of an Introduction and First Reading of an ordinance of the Board of the Greenfield Fire Protection District adopting an ordinance concerning weed and refuse abatement on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 5:00 pm. The meeting will be held virtually with connection information posted on the City of Greenfield Fire Department Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cityofgreenfieldfiredepartment The Ordinance will require properties to remove weeds and other fire hazards from the property, and, if the fire hazard is not removed, the District or the City may enter the property to remove the hazard and pass the cost of removing the hazard to the property owner. A copy of the proposed ordinance is available upon request and is available online on the City of Greenfield Fire Department’s Facebook page. Members of the Public are invited to attend the meeting virtually and provide oral comments at the publi

The Eighth Annual Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit on March 18-19 recognizes the increasingly international scope of the produce industry, with a number of presenters from Latin America and a diversity of experience and expertise from California. Because this year’s summit will be presented in a virtual format via Zoom, attendees can also participate from anywhere in the world – with no charge for registration. Anyone interested can sign up to attend by visiting the webpage hartnellfoundation.org/2021-salinas-valley-ag-tech-summit/. The lineup of speakers and panelists reflects fresh produce’s increasing complexity as competitors work to harness emerging technology and emerging markets, while ensuring that their managers and workers are ready to meet those opportunities. A full-day program on March 19 will open with morning sessions that feature AgTech players and industry leaders presenting on key issues, including workforce challenges and the critical role of education. Aft

Registered and vocational nursing students from Hartnell College will be at the Taylor Farms facility in Gonzales on the morning of Tuesday, February 23, and the afternoon of Wednesday, February 24 to give educational presentations in English and Spanish to company employees as they prepare for their workday. Employees will be in groups of 85-100 at a time, in socially distanced chairs. Since the end of January, the students have presenting COVID-19 information in English and Spanish to six groups of Taylor Farms employees, and this week's work continues that effort. “We’re educating farm workers about the benefits of the vaccine and seeing if they have any questions, trying to dispel some of the myths that are surrounding the vaccine,” Dr. Shepperd said. “The students are on their own. I said, ‘Here’s the material. You need to study it; you’re going to be presenting it. They just kind of took it and owned it.” Student nursing volunteers have also continued to administ

A 2 vehicle crash took place off of Metz Road in the King City area on Milemarker 12.5 at 4:33 pm on Friday, February 19. Two people received minor injuries from the accident and were transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas to be treated. One of the drivers who was injured was arrested and charged with driving under the influence as his vehicle on Metz Road crossed over the lane which caused the collision as both vehicles hit each other head on.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Saturday, February 20 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 41,884 people, while 41,347 people have been released from isolation and 219,667 people have been tested in the County. 12,619 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,149 in King City, 2,690 in Greenfield, 6,014 in Soledad, 1,341 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 192 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 17 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 25 cases reported in Bradley and 23 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,313 are from person to person transmissions, 5,089 have come from community transmissions, 66 are currently hospitalized, 315 people have died, 23,947 are under investigation and 3,381 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) announced on Friday, February 19 legislation that will ensure immigrant children are protected while in foster care. Assembly Bill 1140, the Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Protections Act, will make explicit the State’s role in exercising oversight of the treatment and care of children in state-licensed Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilities, and it would clarify the Ombudsperson’s jurisdiction and responsibility on oversight of children held in state-licensed ORR facilities. “Thousands of unaccompanied children cross our border fleeing poverty and violence, and many of them are temporarily taken into federal custody in state-licensed childcare facilities,” Asm. Rivas said. “California’s foster care system lacks explicit protections for unaccompanied immigrant children, which leaves them particularly vulnerable. AB 1140 addresses this vulnerability and guarantees that this group of children will not be overlooked and u

PASO ROBLES, CA – On Friday, February 19 at approximately 1:50 p.m. Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services responded to 242 Pacific Avenue for a reported residential structure fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene scene to discover a fire inside the residence of a single story residential home with the fire extending into the attic. The fire was quickly contained and all occupants were able to evacuate safely. Two fire engines, one paramedic squad and two Battalion Chiefs from Paso Robles responded to the incident. Under the City’s automatic aid agreement, two engines and one Battalion Chief from CAL FIRE/SLO County and one engine from Atascadero Fire immediately responded to assist. In total, 19 firefighters worked to contain the fire. Additional assistance was provided by the Paso Robles Police Department, PG&E and San Luis Ambulance Service. An investigation determined that the cause of the fire was faulty electrical. Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services would like to re

A 2 vehicle collision occurred off of Metz Road in the King City area on Milemarker 12.5 at 4:33 pm on Friday, February 19. Both vehicles picked up significant front end damage and at least 1 person received major injuries from the crash. More information will be provided once it becomes available.

State health officials announced on Friday, February 19 that they're allowing outdoor high-contact sports to continue in counties in the purple tier of its Blueprint for a Safer Economy system. This means that the new guidance for sports such as football, soccer, baseball, cheerleading and other activities can resume with modifications despite being purple tier counties. The state says counties may resume these sports for competition for youth and recreational adult sports if COVID-19 case rates for those counties are at or below 14 per 100,000. As of Friday, February 19 Monterey County was at 24 per 100,000. In addition, weekly testing will be required for football, rugby and water polo participants age 13 and over in counties with a case rate between 7 and 14 per 100,000. Coaches also must be tested weekly. Moderate-contact sports that include baseball, cheerleading and softball can be played in these counties without the testing requirements. Local counties still need to adopt

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, February 19 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 41,787 people, while 41,197 people have been released from isolation and 219,156 people have been tested in the County. 12,583 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,144 in King City, 2,684 in Greenfield, 6,001 in Soledad, 1,335 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 191 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 13 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 25 cases reported in Bradley and 22 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,269 are from person to person transmissions, 5,087 have come from community transmissions, 66 are currently hospitalized, 315 people have died, 23,946 are under investigation and 3,358 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

SALINAS, CA – On Thursday, February 18 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) joined Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38) in introducing the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. Based on his previous work on immigration reform in his first two terms of Congress, Congressman Panetta was invited to be an original cosponsor of the legislation. This bill would be a comprehensive immigration reform proposal that would create a pathway to citizenship for deserving immigrants, responsibly manage and secure the southern border, keep communities safe and families together, and better manage migration across the hemisphere. The legislation is the end result of close work and collaboration with the Biden Administration, civil and immigrant rights leaders, and members of Congress. “Our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. Unfortunately, politics has outweighed proper policies for the people when it comes to immigration reform by the federal government. Fortunately, the Bid

The Paso Robles PD announced on Thursday, February 18 that authorities in San Luis Obispo County and other agencies arrested 23-year-old Mario Rostro III and 25-year-old Heather Montgomery both of Lovelock, Nevada for accessory to murder of 27-year-old Trevon Perry of Paso Robles. Perry was allegedly shot to death by 23-year-old Nicholas Ron Jr. also of Paso Robles in March of 2020 in Riverside. Ron Jr. is still in custody after being arrested in June of last year for murder, while at least 3 other suspects have been arrested within the last couple of months for their involvement. Investigators from the Paso Robles Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office traveled to Lovelock, Nevada to assist local agencies in arresting Rostro and Montgomery on an arrest warrant relating to their involvement in the Trevon Perry homicide case. SLO County investigators were assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, the Lo

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, February 18 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 41,675 people, while 41,042 people have been released from isolation and 218,556 people have been tested in the County. 12,565 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,141 in King City, 2,679 in Greenfield, 5,994 in Soledad, 1,334 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 190 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 13 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 25 cases reported in Bradley and 21 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,223 are from person to person transmissions, 5,087 have come from community transmissions, 65 are currently hospitalized, 313 people have died, 23,891 are under investigation and 3,354 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

A Monterey County Sheriff's deputy crashed their vehicle during a car chase on Thursday morning, February 18 close to Gonzales. According to Sheriff's Commander John Thornburg, deputies witnessed a car driving recklessly on Highway 68 and when they attempted to pull the vehicle over the driver refused to stop. The vehicle reached speeds as high as 130 miles per hour and was unable to make a turn at an exit ramp as it ran into multiple poles, an air compressor storage tank, and then a large sign pole before coming to a stop. The chase ended south of Gonzales at Camphora-Gloria Road and Highway 101. The Deputy pursuing the vehicle was unable to stop in time, struck a tree and came to a stop in front of the suspected vehicle. The Deputy was not injured and acted quickly holding down 3 suspects at gun point until additional deputies arrived. The 3 suspects were identified as Tytist Johnson, Kamron Brooks, and a juvenile who were taken into custody with no further incident. One of

Salinas police officers arrested a man on Wednesday night, February 17 outside of Soledad that they suspect murdered his girlfriend. According to the Salinas PD, a welfare check was conducted on the woman at 12:15 pm on Wednesday, February 17 which led officers to find the victim who has been identified as a 57-year-old mother at a Salinas home off of the 1700 block of Great Island Street. A search for the woman's boyfriend, 59-year-old Richard Ruiz began immediately and authorities were able to find Ruiz in Gilroy a couple of hours later. After they attempted to pull him over on Highway 101, Ruiz led police on a short chase until a CHP spike strip was utilized to stop his vehicle close to Soledad. Ruiz was booked into the Monterey County Jail charged with murder and evading officers.

Paso Robles, Calif. – The Paso Robles Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint on Friday night, February 19 from 6 pm to 2 am at an undisclosed location within the Paso Robles city limits. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired. During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. As the state continues to work to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Paso Robles Police Department is committed to keeping the public safe. “The safety of our community is and always will be our mission,” Commander Davis said. “We are still out there looking for impaired drivers because driving under the influence is still dangerous.” Paso Robles Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or ove

On Wednesday morning, February 17 at approximately 5 am, the Greenfield Police Department executed a Search Warrant and conducted a Probation Check on 2 separate locations off of the 3900 Block of Apple Avenue in Greenfield. During the search, officers recovered multiple firearms and high capacity magazines. All items were recovered from documented gang members who reside in the Greenfield area. The operation was successfully accomplished with the assistance of members from the Salinas Police Department SWAT Team, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Soledad Police Department, the King City Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security.

A 1 vehicle rollover crash that occurred off of Highway 101 Southbound near the Central Avenue exit in King City on Tuesday night, February 16 at 5:53 pm. 2 occupants were in a Chevy Tahoe and 1 of the occupants received a broken hand from the accident and ended up being transported to a nearby Hospital to be treated. The cause of the collision is unknown.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Wednesday, February 17 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 41,632 people, while 40,991 people have been released from isolation and 218,042 people have been tested in the County. 12,553 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,142 in King City, 2,678 in Greenfield, 5,987 in Soledad, 1,329 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 190 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 13 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 25 cases reported in Bradley and 21 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,145 are from person to person transmissions, 5,107 have come from community transmissions, 72 are currently hospitalized, 310 people have died, 24,031 are under investigation and 3,343 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

The Monterey County Office of Education announced on Tuesday, February 16 that the County's COVID-19 adjusted case rate has dropped low enough which means that K-6 schools can reopen for in-person instruction and added that schools can now finalize their plans to reopen those grades after they post their COVID Safety Plan with the COVID Prevention Policy and School Guidance Checklist on their website. The plan also needs to be submitted to the Health Department and California State Safe Schools for All Team to look at. Once the plan has been presented, the health department and state team have 7 days to review it and provide feedback. If they do not get back to the school by the 8th business day the school can reopen. Some schools in Monterey County were already approved a few months into the beginning of the School year for waivers to reopen before the process was eliminated or worked with small groups of students under the Small Group California Department of Public Health guide

A 1 vehicle rollover took place involving a Chevy Tahoe off of Highway 101 Southbound near the Central Avenue exit in King City on Tuesday night, February 16 at 5:53 pm. 2 occupants were in the vehicle and at least 1 person suffered major injuries from the crash. More information will be provided once it becomes available.

KING CITY, Calif., — Because rural residents — including those in South Monterey County — often encounter barriers to healthcare, hospital foundations have become integral in ensuring widespread access to quality care. As the only healthcare system within a 50 mile radius, King City-based Mee Memorial Healthcare System is vital in providing equitable care for rural residents, including immigrant farmworkers, who often face obstacles to quality care such as distance or language. Supporting these efforts is the Mee Memorial Hospital Foundation, an independent, nonprofit with a mission to adequately “equip, modernize, update and make aesthetically pleasant, the hospital facilities.” “Our foundation is dedicated to improving access to care in South County by funding important projects,” said foundation president John Greathouse. Toward its efforts to grow and better support the hospital, the foundation is currently accepting applications for new board members. Community members interes

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Tuesday, February 16 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 41,580 people, while 636 of those cases are still active and 217,765 people have been tested in the County. 12,545 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,141 in King City, 2,675 in Greenfield, 5,986 in Soledad, 1,327 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 190 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 13 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 24 cases reported in Bradley and 21 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,139 are from person to person transmissions, 5,103 have come from community transmissions, 72 are currently hospitalized, 309 people have died, 40,944 people have been released from isolation, 24,000 are under investigation and 3,330 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, February 14 through Saturday, February 20. Highway 101: First Street – Jolon Road, King City: Long-Term Closure There will be one lane closure along northbound and southbound Highway 101 from First Street to Jolon Road for roadway excavation and pavement work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. Highway 101: San Antonio River Bridge, King City: Long Term There will be one lane closure along northbound and southbound Highway 101 at the San Antonio Bridge for bridge and paving work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Message and directional signs will be in place to assist motorists traveling in the area. Motorists are advised to expect delays of up to five minutes and to allow extra time for their travel. Highway 146: Pinnacles Rd/Metz Rd. – San Benito County Line: February 16 There will be a moving lane closure along eastbound and westbound Highway 146 between

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The ProRodeo Tour Finale will play a bigger role than ever before when it pays out $500,000 on the final weekend of the season. The Tour Finale will move to California Rodeo Salinas, Sept. 23-26 for the 2021 season and will crown the ProRodeo Tour champions. The half-million-dollar payout on the season’s final weekend will play a pivotal role in catapulting athletes into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “This is what the ProRodeo Tour Finale is all about,” PRCA CEO George Taylor said. “Not only will these talented athletes be crowned Tour champions, but a number of competitors will also book their trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.” The Top 24 competitors in each event in the ProRodeo Tour Standings advance to the Tour Finale and will compete for their share of $500,000. “We’re incredibly excited to be the host for the ProRodeo Tour Finale,” Salinas President Dave Pedrazzi said. “California Rodeo Salinas is steeped in ProRodeo history, and having

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Saturday, February 13 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 41,341 people, while 780 of those cases are still active and 216,439 people have been tested in the County. 12,495 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,125 in King City, 2,669 in Greenfield, 5,963 in Soledad, 1,323 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 190 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 13 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 24 cases reported in Bradley and 20 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,096 are from person to person transmissions, 5,104 have come from community transmissions, 96 are currently hospitalized, 307 people have died, 40,561 people have been released from isolation, 23,826 are under investigation and 3,327 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Information Alert! The VA Palo Alto Health Care System has been approved to receive another allocation of Moderna for the VA Gourley Clinic in Marina. 400 doses will be administered at a clinic scheduled for February 25, 2021 and efforts are now underway to expand the amount of vaccine appointments they can offer on that day. If you missed the chance to make an appointment for this Saturday’s clinic, here is another opportunity. Here is the current eligibility criteria to receive a vaccine •Medically compromised Veterans •Homeless Veterans •Veterans over 70 This is NOT a walk-in clinic. Veterans must be enrolled in VA Palo Alto Health Care System and call 650-496-2535 to register. If you or a Veteran you know are NOT connected to the VA or desire to discuss additional benefits, please contact the Monterey County Military and Veterans Affairs Office at www.mvao.org or 831-647-7613.

SACRAMENTO – On Friday, February 12 Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) announced Assembly Bill 568, which will establish a statewide dashboard that consolidates racial health, access, enrollment, and exclusion data to identify and tackle the state’s equity gaps in early learning and care (ELC) programs. Current data is scattered over dozens of county, state, and privately owned databases, making data nearly impossible to access and interpret in a timely manner for policymakers to use. “All children, regardless of racial ethnic background, should have equal access to high-quality early learning and care programs,” Asm. Rivas said. “From graduation rates to academic achievement, ELC programs have a profound beneficial impact on a child’s subsequent educational trajectory. However, with the little data that we do have access to, it points to a troubling fact—Black and Latino children face disproportionate exclusion from high-quality ELC programs in California. AB 568 grants us th

SACRAMENTO – On Friday, February 12 the California State Auditor’s Office released “Homelessness in California: The State’s Uncoordinated Approach to Addressing Homelessness Has Hampered the Effectiveness of Its Efforts,” a report that was requested by Assemblymembers Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) on January 31, 2020, to examine and survey the lead agencies of five Continuum of Care (CoC) areas and obtain a perspective of best practices for homeless services across the State. “Homeless Californians and their communities need help now, and this report demonstrates that we have a long way to go,” Asm. Rivas said. “Clearly, there is a failure of communication and collaboration between the State and local agencies, which is preventing the necessary information and data from reaching State agencies in charge of tackling homelessness. As a lawmaker and as a representative of four different counties that collectively have over 14,500 homeless peopl

SALINAS, CA – During the week of February 8, 2021 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) directly worked on over a half of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Rescue legislation that is in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Panetta attended 18 hours of hearings that took place over two days, and as part of the Agriculture Committee, Congressman Panetta attended a seven-hour hearing. The committees’ work was on multiple COVID-related issues including extending unemployment insurance, delivering more direct assistance to Americans, and supplying vaccines to communities across the country, including farmworkers. “The work that we did on my committees over those two days this week will bolster our communities’ fight against the disease and guide our country’s economic recovery throughout this year,” said Congressman Panetta. “As a member of these committees and, more importantly, as the federal representative for the Centra

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, February 12 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 41,246 people, while 902 of those cases are still active and 215,911 people have been tested in the County. 12,485 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,122 in King City, 2,668 in Greenfield, 5,957 in Soledad, 1,323 in Gonzales, 105 in San Ardo, 190 in Chualar, 63 in San Lucas while 13 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 24 cases reported in Bradley and 20 in San Miguel. In addition, 10,030 are from person to person transmissions, 5,104 have come from community transmissions, 96 are currently hospitalized, 303 people have died, 40,344 people have been released from isolation, 23,833 are under investigation and 3,321 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

The Greenfield Police Department welcomed and introduced 5 new police officers to the Greenfield community on Monday, February 8, 2021 at Greenfield City Hall. The Greenfield Police Department and City Officials hosted a Swearing-In Ceremony for the new police officers. This is a historic event; in that it is believed to be the first time in the history of the Greenfield Police Department that they have introduce 5 new officers to the community at once. Equally notable is the fact that all 5 new officers are bilingual in English and Spanish! Several, including the new female police officer hired, are from South Monterey County! The new officers include Sergeant Guillermo Mixer along with Officers Maximus Barabino, Janelle Sanchez, Javier Ruelas and Jesus Rangel Jr. These officers are a welcomed addition to the Greenfield PD and will assist in the Department's goal of protecting and serving the Greenfield community.

A 1 vehicle rollover involving a silver jeep took place on Highway 101 Southbound near the Thorne Avenue offramp in Greenfield at 2:49 pm on Thursday, February 11. According to the King City CHP, an elderly man driving the vehicle suffered scalp lacerations to his head and was transported by ambulance to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas to be treated. The cause of the crash is unknown.

KING CITY, Calif., — Approaching Mee Memorial Hospital in King City, it’s difficult not to notice the spectacular Memorial Rose Garden, planted more than 50 years ago by a local man wanting to honor his wife in long-term care. Decades later, the Mee Memorial Hospital Foundation tends the garden of heirloom roses, offering local residents the same unique opportunity to honor a loved one or celebrate a special occasion. In an effort to raise funds for the foundation, anyone may purchase a rose bush ($500) located around the walking path. These donations represent a “forever purchase,” meaning a loved one’s name will never be removed from the garden. People may hand-select a rose bush among the 150 still available, based on color or location. The garden is funded entirely by donations, with gifts to the garden recognized by the foundation (unless anonymity is requested). The Foundation staff works together with volunteers to take care of the roses and tend the garden, which