KRKC COUNTRY

On Friday, July 30 the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to require all county employees to be vaccinated unless they have an authorized exemption. The Board also voted to change masking requirements in county buildings. While the state recently announced vaccination or testing requirements for certain workers in hospitals, health care and congregate settings, the Board of Supervisors on July 30 voted to implement stronger measures against COVID-19. In recent weeks, the county’s case and hospitalization rates have seen a dramatic increase. All county employees will be required to show proof of vaccination unless they have an authorized exemption. Those with exemptions will be required to submit to weekly testing. Employees who would be required to undergo more frequently testing under the new State Order will follow those guidelines. “Having been one of the counties that was hardest hit by the pandemic to being one of the most improved counties, it calls upon us t

A brush fire sparked off of the 59000 block of Jolon Road in King City at 1:45 pm on Friday, July 30. CAL FIRE had 6 engines, 2 water tenders and 2 hand crews on site to fight the fire, while they also received aid from the Fort Hunter Liggett Fire Department and from Firefighters with the Los Padres National Forest. The blaze burned over 3 acres and was contained at 2:21 pm. No structures were damaged and no one was injured. The cause of the fire is undetermined.

A power outage took place in Greenfield, Soledad and Gonzales on Friday morning, July 30 at 6:28 a.m. The outage impacted 5,802 customers. PG&E work crews were dispatched to the area to investigate the cause, and to work safely and as quickly as possible to restore power. More than 600 customers had their electricity restored by 9:36 a.m., while 5,190 customers had their power back up and running at 3:02 p.m. The cause of the outage has yet to be determined. PG&E apologizes for the inconvenience and thanks their customers for their patience and understanding as they were working to fully restore power.

A 5 vehicle crash happened on Highway 101 Northbound near the Broadway Street exit in King City on Friday, July 30 at 10:20 am. 3 occupants received minor injuries from the accident and traffic was backed up for over an hour. The cause of the collision is unknown.

Salinas, CA – The recall election ballot has two questions: In the first question, voters have the option to vote “yes” or “no” to the question of whether to remove the Governor from office. In the second question, voters will have an opportunity to select a replacement candidate. If more than 50% of voters vote to recall the governor, the governor would be removed from office and the candidate with the most votes would replace him. Each question is counted independently. Voters may vote for a replacement candidate regardless of whether or how they vote on the recall question. Likewise, voters can vote on the question regardless of whether or how they vote for a replacement candidate. Beginning this weekend, voters can expect to receive a notice from the Monterey County Elections office with more information about voting options and what to expect in the mailed ballot packet. Ballots will be mailed to all active voters by August 16th. The ballot packet will include the

PASO ROBLES, CA – On Wednesday July 28, 2021, at approximately 11:27 AM Pasob Robles Fire and Emergency Services responded to a report of a vegetation fire in the riverbed, south of the Niblick Bridge. First arriving firefighters found a quarter acre of grass and brush actively burning in the riverbed. Firefighters were able to contain the fire within 30 minutes to 1 acre and worked to fully extinguish the fire over the next five hours. Three fire engines and one Battalion Chief from Paso Robles responded. Under the City’s automatic mutual aid agreement, two engines, one battalion chief and one crew from CAL Fire/SLO County responded. The cause of the fire was found to be human in nature at the site of a homeless encampment. The fire was contained on two sides by previously grazed areas and manmade fire breaks.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, July 29 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 44,484 people, 44,278 people have been released from isolation, while 263,536 people have reportedly been tested. 12,996 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,228 in King City, 2,776 in Greenfield, 6,153 in Soledad, 1,380 in Gonzales, 107 in San Ardo, 203 in Chualar, 68 in San Lucas, while 28 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 30 cases reported in Bradley and 23 in San Miguel. In addition, 11,807 are from person to person transmissions, 4,952 have come from community transmissions, 22 are currently hospitalized, 528 people have died, 23,597 are under investigation and 3,706 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Adopt the next furry, purry love of your life at the SPCA through Sunday, August 1st. During the event, SPCA Monterey County will waive the adoption fee for all cats one year and older. SPCA Monterey County is located at 1002 Monterey-Salinas Highway, across from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Adoption hours are 11 am to 5 pm. Multiple studies have shown that the amount paid for an animal has no bearing on how that pet will be treated in the future and pets adopted at free adoption events have lower return rates than regular adoptions. “Right now, with dozens of playful kittens available for adoption, adult cats can sometimes get overshadowed,” says Beth Brookhouser, SPCA Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “This event helps shine a light on our wonderful adult cats patiently waiting for their new homes.” SPCA adoptions include the pet’s spay or neuter surgery, permanent microchip identification, vaccinations, SPCA ID tag, a health evaluation, and more. Regula

Salinas, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Tuesday, July 27 that 47-year-old Monterey County District 1 Supervisor Luis Alejo, pled guilty to driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content above 0.08%. On May 28, 2021, at approximately 11:36 pm., California Highway Patrol Officer J. Gallemore was on patrol in the Prunedale area of Monterey County when he observed a small black SUV driving southbound completely on the right shoulder of San Miguel Canyon Road. Officer Gallemore initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver, Luis Alejo. Upon contacting Supervisor Alejo, the officer smelled a strong odor of an alcohol beverage, observed that his speech was slurred, and his eyes were red and watery. When asked to step out of his vehicle, Alejo was unsteady on his feet. Supervisor Alejo cooperated with the investigation. Breath tests demonstrated that his blood alcohol content was .17 % and .16 %. Supervisor Alejo did not personally appear in

Hartnell College has been selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000 for a partnership that will prepare Monterey County veterans for careers in Salinas Valley agriculture and place them in jobs. Funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative was designed to directly support students while also elevating the importance of career and technical education. This work is highlighted at a global level through the visibility and influence of the heavy metal band Metallica, who continue to speak out on the dignity of professional trades and vital role of community colleges in technical education. The Metallica Scholars Initiative is now in its third year and has fundamentally improved the earning potential for students who become Metallica Scholars. Hartnell College and its lead partners, the Grower-Shippers Association (GSA) of Central C

A 1 vehicle accident involving a red sedan happened off of Highway 101 Southbound near the 5th Street exit in Gonzales at 1:16 pm on Tuesday, July 27. The CHP reports that the car crashed into the center divide and backed up traffic in the area for over 20 minutes. 1 occupant in the vehicle received minor injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas. The cause of the collision is unknown.

PASO ROBLES, CA – The 2021 Industrial Arts Auction was held on Thursday, July 22 during Cattlemen & Farmers Day at the California Mid-State Fair. This year’s auction, with auctioneer Rick Machado, brought in $102,000, thanks to generous support from the community. Over $750,000 has been brought in since the auction began over 20 years ago. An additional $35,000 was raised in support of the James W. Brabeck Foundation (JWBYLF), which serves Agriculture-related and at-risk youth in the Paso Robles community through scholarship and capital campaigns that will assist in influencing their futures. Since its inception in 2017, the JWBYLF has been instrumental in supporting exhibitors at the California Mid-State Fair. In 2020, the JWBYLF raised over $200,000 which was used to purchase livestock, with nearly 50,000 pounds of protein donated to the SLO County Food Bank. Airgas has been the presenting sponsor of the Industrial Education Program since its inception; the program was designed

The SPCA Wildlife Center has been the only full-service wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Monterey County since 1982, rescuing over 2,500 injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals every year. Despite that, many locals say “I didn’t know this amazing place existed” and don’t know where to turn during the stressful, emotional time when they find a wild animal in distress. The SPCA Wildlife Center is asking for your help getting the word out about their rescue and rehabilitation services so more injured, orphaned, and sick wild animals can be saved. The SPCA Wildlife Center is currently caring for more than 120 wild patients, including a juvenile coyote (picture attached). The young coyote was found at Second Avenue and Lightfighter in Fort Ord dragging her back legs and was unable to move well. She had likely been hit by a car. SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Technicians gave her fluids and pain medication on intake, and slowly started her on soft, palatable foods to regain

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Tuesday, July 27 that on July 15, 2021 the court approved a property in Bradley, California for 68-year-old Sexually Violent Predator Jorge Rubio’s supervised release. Rubio was convicted of multiple sex offenses against children in the 1980s and 1990s for which a jury subsequently designated him a sexually violent predator resulting in his indefinite commitment to a state hospital. In September of 2006 following his prison sentence, Rubio was transferred to Coalinga State Hospital where he remains today. In December 2019, the state hospital recommended supervised release pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 6608. Although the state hospital found Rubio is still a sexually violent predator, it concluded that his treatment has progressed such that he is unlikely to reoffend while under supervision and treatment in the community. In September of 2020 the court held a hearing on the matte

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Tuesday, July 27 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 44,396 people, 44,228 people have been released from isolation, while 262,773 people have reportedly been tested. 12,985 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,221 in King City, 2,773 in Greenfield, 6,152 in Soledad, 1,379 in Gonzales, 107 in San Ardo, 203 in Chualar, 68 in San Lucas, while 29 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 30 cases reported in Bradley and 23 in San Miguel. In addition, 11,778 are from person to person transmissions, 4,951 have come from community transmissions, 22 are currently hospitalized, 526 people have died, 23,547 are under investigation and 3,704 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

1 Vehicle hit a power pole off of Chualar Road and Old Stage Road in Chualar at 5:10 pm on Monday, July 26. One person received cuts to his hands from the accident. The cause of the crash is unknown.

A 2 vehicle wreck involving a Ford Mustang and a Toyota Prius took place on Highway 101 Southbound near the Correctional Training Facility Offramp in Soledad at 4:28 pm on Monday, July 26. There were minor injuries reported from the crash. The cause of the accident is unknown.

A truck with a trailer overturned striking a power pole on Highway 101 Southbound off of Camphora Gloria Road in Soledad at 2:26 pm on Monday, July 26. The CHP reports that the power pole and some power wires fell as a result of the accident. PG&E work crews arrived on the scene within 30 minutes to assess the situation and repair the damage. 593 customers experienced power outages because of the crash and electricity was fully restored to all of the affected customers by 6:30 pm later that evening. No one was injured. (Photo courtesy of Ruby Perez)

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday, July 26 that she formed a new unit specializing in identifying and remedying wrongful convictions. The Conviction Review Unit (CRU) will examine all plausible claims of innocence and of conviction due to false material evidence. For claims that merit review, the CRU will conduct a detailed investigation. If the investigation indicates that a wrongful conviction has taken place, the District Attorney’s Office will make every effort within its power to achieve justice. District Attorney Pacioni commented that “The most important duty of a prosecutor is not to obtain convictions, rather it is to pursue truth and justice. That duty extends beyond the date of conviction, and it will be the mission of the CRU to ensure justice for those who claim to have been wrongfully convicted.” Although undoing a wrongful conviction has always been a prosecutor’s duty, in the past, other than the appellate pr

MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, July 25 through July 31. Highway 101: Front Street – North Soledad OH: July 27 – July 28 One lane closure will occur along northbound Highway 101 from Front Street to the Soledad Overcrossing for bridge work from 9 am to 3 pm. Highway 101: Jolon Road – Teague Avenue: July 26 – July 30 One lane closure will occur along northbound Highway 101 from Jolon Road to Teague Avenue for drainage work from 6 am to 4 pm. Highway 101: San Antonio River Bridge: July 26 – July 28 One lane closure will occur along northbound and southbound Highway 101 at the San Antonio River Bridge for guardrail work from 6 am to 6 pm. Highway 101: First Street – Jolon Road, King City: Long-Term 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 am to 4 pm. Motorists can expect delays of up to 10

PASO ROBLES, CA – At approximately 4:10 p.m. on Sunday, July 25 Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services responded to the rear of a property located at 1134 Black Oak Drive for a reported vegetation fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a vegetation fire burning between 2 commercial properties with difficult access. The fire spread to an adjacent commercial storage yard on the 3200 block of Riverside Avenue which contained an assortment of roofing material. The burning roofing material produced a large black column of smoke that was visible throughout the City. The fire was quickly contained and did not spread to any nearby structures. Three fire engines, and one Battalion Chief from Paso Robles responded to the incident. Under the City’s automatic aid agreement, two engines from CAL FIRE/SLO County immediately responded to assist. In total, 16 firefighters worked to control the fire. Additional assistance was provided by the Paso Robles Police Department. Further investigation determ

During the week of July 18, Monterey County Sheriffs Deputies in South County responded to a report of gunshots and headlights of a vehicle leaving the area of Highway 198 and Highway 25, south of King City. Deputy Baugh responded and located a vehicle leaving the area. He stopped the truck for an equipment violation and immediately saw animal hooves sticking up from the truck bed. The three occupants of the truck were safely detained due to the high likelihood of firearms being inside the vehicle. Deputies searched the truck and located 2 wild pigs and 3 rabbits in the bed of the truck which had been illegally killed. Lieutenant Gil from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived a short time later and continued the poaching investigation. While searching the truck they located 2 unregistered rifles, night vision equipment, illegal ammunition, and no hunting licenses or tags.

PASO ROBLES, CA – On May 24, 2021, notice was provided in the Salinas Riverbed from Niblick Bridge to the City Limits of Paso Robles north of the Wastewater Treatment Plant that the Fire Chief had designated the area as high fire risk. This included instructions that all persons must vacate, and all property had to be removed by May 25, 2021. Additional notifications have been provided on a continuous basis and cleanup has been conducted. The Community Action Team (CAT), in conjunction with the Paso Robles Fire Department and the Community Services Department have all worked towards obtaining compliance by identifying and monitoring fire sources, removing trash and discarded materials and cleaning up unsanitary sites. Once cleaned, sites were found reestablished including having open fire pits, propane tanks, gas powered generators, large car/RV batteries, discarded drug paraphernalia, trash and unsanitary conditions. From July 13 through July 22 approximately 19,000 pounds of trash a

Hours and days are changing for the state supported community COVID-19 testing sites. As more of the population of Monterey County has received COVID-19 vaccinations and as the pandemic has progressed, the demand for COVID-19 testing has decreased. There continues to be new COVID-19 cases and a need for testing and the new schedule ensures there is a free testing site open somewhere in the county on every day of the week. If the need for testing increases, the hours of operation can be increased to meet the demand. Due to the decrease in usage, beginning the week of Monday, July 26 the following changes will take effect: · Castroville testing site at the Andy Ausonio Library will close. The last day of testing will be August 1st. · Salinas testing site at the Caesar Chavez Library will be open Thursday through Monday, Noon to 8 pm. · Soledad testing site at the Soledad Library will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm. · Seasi

On Thursday night, July 22 at 10:39 pm, Monterey County Communications received a 9-1-1 call from an individual on the 300 Block of Mustang Court in King City who was whispering and requesting police assistance. Upon arrival to the area, King City Police Officers heard what sounded like a vehicle collision and then observed a red vehicle fleeing the area without its head lights on. A traffic stop was attempted on this vehicle at which time the vehicle failed to yield and attempted to flee from the area. When the vehicle was in the area of the intersection of Mustang Court and Willow Avenue 26-year-old Raul Fernandez of Soledad exited the driver side door and fled on foot. King City personnel, with the assistance of personnel from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, were able to apprehend Fernandez and take him into custody. Upon contact with the initial reporting party, it was discovered that Fernandez, who was armed with a loaded handgun and loaded shotgun, had forced his way into

Here are the latest updates on temporary “POP-UP” vaccine sites. Unless otherwise noted, vaccines are provided FREE (no cost) and on a walk-in basis (no appointment). · NOTE: Minors will need a parent/guardian or an adult to accompany them. · Johnson & Johnson is available to adults age 18+. CASTROVILLE: · Full Gospel Church Las Lomas – 29 Willow Road, Royal Oakes · DATE: JUL 25 (Sunday only) · NOTE: Church is near Castroville. · Vaccine at this site is open only to residents of Castroville, Moss Landing, Las Lomas and Pajaro. · HOURS: 12:30pm – 3:00pm · REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Call 831-274-3414 (ENGLISH) or 831-440-3556 (SPANISH). · Enjoy FREE TACOS while getting vaccinated. Outdoor event includes FREE immigration consultations. For more info, click here. · Castroville Family Resource Center – 10601 McDougall St., Castroville · DATES: JUL 26 – 1st dose; AUG

A reminder to all Monterey County residents, the county’s Alternate Housing Site program is still available for those who test positive for COVID-19 and cannot safely isolate in their regular living arrangements while they recover. As the number of cases increases in Monterey County, so has the need for this safe recovery program. The number of clients in the housing program had been down to one last week, but in the last 2 days, that number has jumped to 12 with additional referrals still coming in. Monterey County’s Alternate Housing site program currently has 10 trailers available for use at San Lorenzo Park in King City. While the park is open to the public, the housing site area is off limits to the public and security is on site. The Alternate Housing program was launched in April 2020 utilizing trailers and hotel rooms for safe isolation and has served approximately 600 residents. Currently, only the trailers are in use. The program is staffed to assist and serve guests as they

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, July 22 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 44,273 people, 44,105 people have been released from isolation, while 261,005 people have reportedly been tested. 12,962 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,210 in King City, 2,768 in Greenfield, 6,147 in Soledad, 1,378 in Gonzales, 107 in San Ardo, 203 in Chualar, 68 in San Lucas, while 28 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 30 cases reported in Bradley and 23 in San Miguel. In addition, 11,748 are from person to person transmissions, 4,950 have come from community transmissions, 13 are currently hospitalized, 524 people have died, 23,472 are under investigation and 3,700 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

(PASO ROBLES, CA) – The California Mid-State Fair is pleased to announce that 21-year-old Yvette Florentino of Arroyo Grande has been crowned the 2021 Miss California Mid-State Fair Queen. 18-year-old Cassidie Banish of San Miguel was the 1st Runner Up, 23-year-old Megan Moffat of Paso Robles was 2nd Runner Up, and 20-year-old Haley Fredrick of Paso Robles was named Miss Congeniality. Yvette Florentino is attending Cuesta College and her hobbies and interests include painting and horseback riding. She’s part of Woods Humane Society, Portuguese Holy Spirit Society (board member), a regular contributor to Vitalant, and a support assistant for Rise. Her awards and achievements include becoming 2019 Miss Congeniality, creating blankets for P.A.W.S., and becoming a Veterinary Judge for FFA. Five words that describe her are outgoing, hard- working, compassionate, adventurous, and sassy. Her talent was Speed Painting. The 2021 California Mid-State Fair runs July 21 – August 1 and this year t

Monterey, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Thursday, July 22 that the District Attorney’s Office’s Bureau of Investigations, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other state and local agencies (“Monterey County Cannabis Enforcement Unit”), continued enforcement efforts this week against the unlicensed cannabis industry. More specifically, the Monterey County Cannabis Enforcement Unit conducted cannabis enforcement operations targeting unlicensed cannabis cultivations, and, in total, these operations resulted in the eradication and destruction of over 3 tons of illegal cannabis in the King City area off of Jolon Road and close to Fort Hunter Liggett. These enforcement efforts will continue throughout the year. Investigation into these most recent illegal operations is active and ongoing. The Monterey County Cannabis Enforcement Unit has participated in multiple joint operations this year targeting illegal c

PASO ROBLES, CA – Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services responded to two vegetation fires, and a vehicle fire within the last 2 days. On Tuesday, July 20 at approximately 3:10 p.m. Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services, along with CAL FIRE/SLO County responded to a vegetation fire in the Salinas River north of Highway 46. The 3⁄4 acre fire was contained within 20 minutes and fully extinguished after 2 hours. The fire was determined to be human caused. On Wednesday, July 21 at approximately 4:45 p.m. Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services responded to a fully involved vehicle fire extending to adjacent vehicles in the parking lot of 125 Spring Street. While responding to the vehicle fire a vegetation fire was reported at 2715 Black Oak Drive in Paso Robles. Two vehicles were destroyed due to the vehicle fire and the vegetation fire was contained at 20 x 20. There were no injuries to the public or firefighters as a result of the fires.

Salinas, CA – The nomination period to qualify as a write-in candidate for the California Gubernatorial Recall Election, runs Monday, July 19, 2021 through Friday, August 31, 2021. Candidate forms will be available only during this time and must be submitted by the deadline. For detailed information related to the recall election, including filing requirements and qualifications, please visit: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/2021-ca-gov-recall Schedule an appointment via email at CandidateServices@co.monterey.ca.us or by phone (831) 796-1499. Official documents may be obtained from and filed at the Monterey County Elections Department, 1441 Schilling Place – North Building, Salinas, CA. For more information visit www.MontereyCountyElections.us.

(PASO ROBLES, CA) – As residents and guests prepare for a visit to the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, the Fair and County Public Health Department remind everyone to take precautions to stay healthy and safe. “Earlier this year, we saw our community’s first responders giving thousands of vaccines here at the Fairgrounds,” said CMSF Interim CEO Colleen Bojorquez. “Thanks in part to that effort, we can now safely welcome our community back to the Fair. We’re thrilled to open the gates today and we encourage everyone to join us in keeping our community safe3⁄4so we never have to pause this loved tradition again.” Tips to keep your visit healthy and fun: Make sure you have your COVID-19 Vaccine. Getting vaccinated protects you and your loved ones from getting COVID-19 and helps prevent a surge in cases. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, be sure to wear a mask when indoors. Find local vaccine information at RecoverSLO.org/vaccine. Dress for the conditions. Wear lightweight,

SALINAS – Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales announced on Tuesday, July 20 that the gross production value of Monterey County agriculture decreased by 11.3%, in 2020 to $3,910,135,000. This represents a $499,857,000 decrease from 2019 when, the gross production value was $4.4 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the loss of much of the foodservice sector due to the cancelation of major events with large gatherings of people and the closure of schools. Subsequently, the production of most crops was depressed. In some instances, ash from the wildfires made some produce unsellable, resulting in crop losses. In other instances, crop disease outbreaks resulted in crop losses. A bright spot was Strawberries which had a 26% increase from 2019 and moved to the top as the most valuable crop of 2020. Leaf lettuce on the other hand, had a 15.2% decrease from 2019, dropping to the second most valuable crop at $712,681,000 in part due to lower pricing and COVID-19 pandemic effects. Hea

(PASO ROBLES, CA) – The California Mid-State Fair regrets to announce the cancellation of the Bret Michaels’ concert, set for Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Despite following all CDC guidelines and protocol, members of the Bret Michaels’ touring entourage have possibly been exposed to Covid-19, and out of an abundance of caution, have decided to cancel the show. Interim Fair CEO Colleen Bojorquez said, “Of course we are terribly saddened by the news, but the health and safety of the Bret Michaels’ band, our staff and crew, and concert ticket holders is the most important thing. We are hopeful that we will be able to reschedule Bret in 2022. We are still very excited to open the gates this Wednesday and are looking forward to a fabulous 2021 Fair.” The California Mid-State Fair will immediately begin the process of refunding the money to all concert ticket buyers. For more information, please go to www.MidStateFair.com. The 2021 California Mid-State Fair runs July 21 – August 1 and this yea

A 2 vehicle crash happened 3 miles south of King City off of Highway 101 Southbound and the Layous Overcrossing north of the Wildhorse exit on Monday afternoon, July 19 at 2:26 pm. The collision involved a white SUV which overturned and a blue SUV. Two of the occupants in the white SUV were not wearing their seatbelts as they picked up major injuries and were transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, while no one was injured in the blue SUV. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

One man was injured after being hit by a passenger vehicle off of Highway 101 Northbound and north of State Route 198 in San Lucas on Sunday night, July 18 at 7:09 pm. The King City CHP states that they believe the man was running across the Highway to try and retrieve something before he was struck. The man picked up major injuries from the collision and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas to be treated. The man's named has not been released.

On Sunday, July 18 at approximately 1:03 am the King City Police Department received multiple 9-1-1 calls regarding shots that were heard in the area of North Vanderhurst Avenue. Upon arrival, Officers located a vehicle and a house that had sustained damage consistent with what appeared to be gunshot holes. Officers located several casings, bullet fragments, and a victim who appeared to have been targeted by the unknown suspect(s). The victim fled inside a local residence during the shooting incident for safety. At this time, the suspect(s) are outstanding, and this is an active investigation. The King City Police Department is requesting assistance from the public in solving this crime. Anyone with further information regarding this case are encouraged to contact the King City Police Department at (831) 386-5980; Sergeant John Dow at (831) 386-5969 or jdow@kingcity.com; or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME. Your call may remain completely anonymous. The investigation is continuing, an

With cases of COVID-19 rising locally and increased reports of the very infectious Delta variant, the Counties of Monterey, Napa, San Benito, and Santa Cruz recommend that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places. Out of an abundance of caution, people are recommended to wear masks indoors in places like grocery or retail stores, theaters, and family entertainment centers, even if they are fully vaccinated. Businesses are urged to adopt universal masking requirements for customers entering indoor areas of their businesses to provide better protection to their employees and customers. This will also make it easier for businesses to be sure unvaccinated people are masked. Workplaces must comply with Cal/OSHA requirements. The Health Officers of Monterey, Napa, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties state that the Delta variants are spreading quickly in this area and that COVID-19 hospitalizations among the unvaccinated are increasing. The De

MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, July 18 through July 24. Highway 101: First Street – Jolon Road, King City: Long-Term 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 am to 4 pm. Motorists can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. Please keep in mind that construction work is weather-dependent.

PASO ROBLES, CA – At approximately 10:00 p.m. on Friday night, July 16 Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services were dispatched to a vegetation fire south of the Niblick Bridge within the Salinas River. Fire engines arrived on the scene within approximately 5 minutes and discovered a 50 by 50 fire burning near Kohls in the riverbed. The fire was burning in heavy vegetation between the main river channel and a recently grazed firebreak. Firefighters accessed the fire through the managed firebreak and quickly stopped the forward spread of the fire at 1⁄4 acre. Three fire engines and one Battalion Chief from Paso Robles responded. Under the City’s automatic and mutual aid agreements, three fire engines, and one Battalion Chief from CAL FIRE/SLO County responded. Investigators determined the fire to be human caused.

On Friday afternoon, July 16 Soledad Police Officers conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations. The driver and passenger in the vehicle were contacted and were found to be in possession of open alcohol containers and marijuana containers. The front passenger, Eduardo Martinez Flores, fled on foot from the vehicle holding his waist band. Flores ended up being apprehended after a foot chase, and was found to have discarded a loaded firearm with a high capacity magazine. The driver, Christian Moreno-Ramirez, delayed officers while the passenger fled on foot. Flores and Ramirez are known and self-admitted Norteno gang associates. Both were arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on numerous firearm and gang related charges. The Soledad Police Officers were assisted by Cal Fire Law Enforcement officers, as well as the Greenfield Police Department.

According to a report from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office on Friday, July 16, Sheriff’s detectives on Tuesday, July 13 served a search warrant on Chualar Canyon Road in Chualar for a suspected illegal cannabis growing operation. Detectives found an illegal honey butane lab which required the response of the bomb squad because of the pressurized tanks. Detectives were able to seize approximately 7,000 pounds of illegal cannabis and 300 pounds of processed illegal cannabis.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, July 15 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 44,113 people, 43,992 people have been released from isolation, while 259,049 people have reportedly been tested. 12,931 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 2,202 in King City, 2,762 in Greenfield, 6,136 in Soledad, 1,376 in Gonzales, 107 in San Ardo, 201 in Chualar, 68 in San Lucas, while 27 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. There have also been 30 cases reported in Bradley and 22 in San Miguel. In addition, 11,722 are from person to person transmissions, 4,949 have come from community transmissions, 6 are currently hospitalized, 518 people have died, 23,352 are under investigation and 3,699 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

The King City Police Department Announced on Thursday, July 15 that they will be taking part in National Night Out on Tuesday, August 3.

SACRAMENTO – On Thursday, July 15 the Legislature unanimously passed the broadband budget trailer bill, AB/SB 156, to expand the state’s broadband fiber infrastructure and increase internet connectivity for rural and urban families and businesses across the state. Following the vote, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) released the following statement: This historic, $6 billion technological investment will go a long way to address the broadband inequities that have existed in the rural and underserved communities of our state. I applaud the Governor and Legislature for investing in the necessary infrastructure to bridge the digital divide. The pandemic has demonstrated just how reliant our modern world has become on technology. However, rural communities like my district are 12.5 times more likely to lack access to broadband compared to urban communities. My constituents remember all too well the picture of the two girls sitting outside a Taco Bell in Salinas to access the f

Monterey California, Thursday July 1, 2021 — After more than a year and a half of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hospice Giving Foundation resumes its in-person workshops. In collaboration with Soledad Community Health Care District (SCHCD), HG Foundation is helping the Latinx community make the transition to their new reality. The Covid-19 pandemic has left different kinds of losses globally: from the loss of a job to the death of a loved one. It is now when our community needs support, as this grief will have an impact in their lives for the next two years. As part of our commitment to provide bereavement and grief services, HG Foundation and SCHCD have prepared the workshop, “Managing Grief as We Return to a New Normal”, Thursday, July 15, from 5:00 to 6:30 P.M. at the Soledad Community Center, located at 560 Walker Drive in Soledad. “Although we have fully opened, we are still recovering from this unprecedented pandemic. We will talk about how we can heal ourselves as a community in a saf