KRKC COUNTRY

  On Wednesday night, December 28 at about 8:30 P.M., patrol officers conducted a traffic stop on the 400 block of El Camino Real in Greenfield.  Officers learned that the occupants in the vehicle were under 21, from Salinas, dressed in gang attire, and in illegal possession of marijuana. A search of the vehicle was conducted for the marijuana, and an unserialized firearm (Ghost Gun) was located under the driver’s seat.  The driver, 18-year-old Isaac Garcia of Salinas, was placed under arrest for possession of a loaded and unserialized firearm, while 18-year-old Justin Gamotan of Salinas, and a 17-year-old juvenile, also from Salinas, were issued citations for illegally possessing marijuana.  Garcia was transported to the Monterey County Jail.

  In October of 2022 the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a sexual assault that had occurred in South Monterey County. Further investigation and an interview with the victim revealed that 60-year-old Michael David Paulsen of Lockwood had sexually molested the victim when she was between the ages of 13 and 17. On Wednesday, December 28 Detectives served a search warrant at Paulsen’s residence off of Lockwood/Jolon Road in Lockwood after Paulsen had been arrested by Detectives. Paulsen was booked into the Monterey County Jail where he was charged with several aggravated sexual assault charges, including rape of a minor, kidnapping with the intent to commit lewd and lascivious acts of a minor, oral copulation of a minor, sexual penetration with a foreign object, and lewd and lascivious acts of a minor. Paulsen is being held on $25 million bail. Anyone with information about this investigation or additional victims is encouraged to call Detective David Gonzalez at 831-755

  Salinas Valley State Prison Officials in Soledad are looking into the death of a prisoner as a possible homicide. The inmate identified as 45-year-old Ross Nusser was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday, December 24 at 2:49 p.m. by jail staff after allegedly being attacked by his cellmate identified as 42-year-old Benjamin Ramage. Nusser was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead on the evening of December 24 at 7:46 pm. Nusser, who was admitted to Salinas Valley State Prison from Riverside County on October 5 of 2010 and was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, while Ramage was admitted to SVSP from Kings County on November 20 of 2015, serving a 4-year sentence for possession of ammunition by a prohibited person along with an extra 6-year sentence in 2017 for an in-prison offense of battery on a non-prisoner and an additional 4-year sentence in 2019 for assault by a prisoner wit

  County of Monterey staff and departments have been working around the clock on clean-up efforts resulting from the recent storm. The weather event our area experienced, known as an atmospheric river, produced a tremendous amount of rain in a short period of time, especially in some localized areas. Storm Preparation In anticipation of the storm season, the Department of Public Works, Facilities and Parks and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency were proactive in taking preemptive measures, including pre-winter storm inspections of culverts in the County's service area, cleaning of culverts, pre-winter storm street sweeping in urbanized areas and pre-positioning tens of thousands of sand sandbags and tons of sand in typically impacted areas throughout the County. The County in concert with the National Weather Service, issued multiple advisories and alerts to help residents prepare for this weather event. During the Storm During the storm event on Tuesday, December 27 the Co

  Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will be holding its monthly luncheon meeting on Tuesday, January 3 at 11:30 a.m. at King Kora Restaurant, 611 Canal Street, King City. The guest speaker will be Dr. Steven Harrison. Dr. Harrison's topic will be "How to Navigate the Health Care System." Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. For reservations and further information call (831) 385-1333 or e-mail karenleonhard@yahoo.com 

  According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, on December 19, 2022, just before 7:00 pm, a truck driver was on break on the 29000 block of Spence Road in an unincorporated area of Salinas. The alert truck driver called 9-1-1 to report that a female was bleeding and laying on the ground. Fire and AMR arrived shortly after and the female was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas for treatment. A short time later, Natividad Medical Center reported to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office that the female had suffered from a significant sexual assault and had severe injuries, including blood loss, which required surgery. Deputies responded to the scene and worked to preserve and collect evidence. In the early morning hours of December 20, 2022, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division took over the investigation and secured the crime scene for further processing. During the course of the investigation, 43-year-old Jesus Uribe of Gonzales was contac

  Pine Canyon firefighters along with Lockwood firefighters, Camp Roberts fire, Fort Hunter Liggett fire, CAL FIRE BEU, and CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo Unit responded to a structure fire outside of King City off of Jolon Road and Heinsen Road at 2:30 pm on Saturday, December 24. No injuries were reported.

MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, December 25 through Saturday, December 31.  Highway 101: Soledad Prison: December 28 There will be one lane closure along southbound Highway 101 at Soledad Prison for electrical work from 9 am to 3 pm. Highway 101:  Soledad Overhead: December 27 – December 29 There will be full closure of the off ramp of northbound Highway 101 at the Soledad Overhead for bridge work from 7 am to 5 pm. Highway 101 Soledad Overhead: Long-Term There will one long-term lane closure along northbound Highway 101 at the Soledad Overhead for bridge work. Highway 101: Jolon Road (Northbound) – Teague Avenue: December 27 - December 29 There will be one lane closure along northbound Highway 101 between Jolon Road and Teague Avenue for miscellaneous work along the highway from 8 am to 4 pm. Highway 101: Jolon Road  (Northbound):  December 27 – December 29 There will be full closure of the on ramp of northbound Hi

  Paso Robles, CA – The Paso Robles Police Department routinely conducts compliance checks of subjects on active probation, parole, or are deemed a threat to the community. A compliance check was conducted on Thursday, December 22 , 2022, and Bill Benjamin Hernandez, a 51-year-old resident of Paso Robles, was arrested on a warrant for felony traffic evasion, while Stephanie Joy Dukes, a 43-year-old resident of Paso Robles, was arrested on 14 outstanding warrants. Both subjects were transported and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail. The Paso Robles Police Department is requesting anyone with any important criminal information to call the PRPD at (805) 237-6464 or persons wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers' 24-hour hotline at 805-549-STOP or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).

Monterey, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced the following preliminary information concerning an officer involved shooting in King City. On Monday night, December 19 at 6:53 pm Joshua Varao of King City called 9-1-1 stating that his brother Brandon Varao had stabbed him multiple times and was being restrained by their father. King City Police Officer Janelle Sanchez responded to the scene, was the first officer to arrive, and did so within 3 minutes. Officer Sanchez exited her car with a medical bag, apparently to render aid. However, she encountered a person (later identified as Brandon Varao) who stepped off the curb in front of a white truck with his hands up. She instructed him to come out with his hands up and then turned around and placed her medical bag on the hood of her patrol car. When she turned back around, Varao had ignored her command because he no longer had his hands up and moved backward mostly out of the car video frame. Anoth

  Monterey California, Friday, December 16, 2022— The Alzheimer’s Association Monterey County is pleased to announce it has received a $30,000 grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. The Alzheimer’s Association provides education, support groups, information and referrals, and individualized care planning for Monterey County residents seeking help with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Our no-cost offerings are available in English and Spanish for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, their families, and caregivers. We help people and their loved ones answer the question, “What do we do now?” after receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.   Since its inception, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation has given millions of dollars to support local nonprofits and schools in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito Counties. In 2022, the Foundation reached the charitable milestone of $200 million in lifetime giving. Com

  On Friday, December 30, 2022, Monterey County Assessor - County Clerk Recorder Stephen L. Vagnini will officially retire after 35 years of public service. To maintain continuity of service, after his official retirement, Vagnini will immediately swear in his successor, Marina Camacho, who has served as Assistant Assessor the last 6 years and was elected to the office in November. Vagnini was first elected in 2001 and successfully ran unopposed for three subsequent four-year terms, then won an additional election for a total of five terms in office. In addition to his duties as an elected official, Vagnini was active in many other aspects of local government, chairing several County committees such as the Cost Savings Committee, the Department Head Training Advisory Committee, the Department Head GIS Committee and the Department Head Committee on Succession Planning. He also served as the Chair of the Department Council for 12 years. The Cost Savings Committee was created as an altern

  In observance of the holidays, King City City Hall and the Police Station public counter will be closed Friday, December 23 through Monday, January 2. All police public safety emergency response operations will maintain normal staffing and hours during this time, as well as the emergency response capabilities of the King City Volunteer Fire Department. Public Works staff will be available on an on-call basis as needed. As always, contact 9-1-1 if you experience an emergency.   The City of King wishes everyone in the community a happy and safe holiday.   Please contact City Hall at 385-3281 if you have any questions.

  Need high speed internet? Tell them about it. Is your internet speed less than what you pay for or is internet service not available in your area? Tell them about it. High speed, high quality internet service is essential for modern life. The FCC has a new map showing where broadband service is - and is not. But is everyone getting the service they are entitled to? Between now and January 13, 2023, please help Monterey County build an accurate picture of locations without internet service. The County of Monterey Broadband Speed Campaign is asking all residents to tell them about their internet speed at home, work, or wherever they connect. Residents can check connectivity and service using a new Broadband Map consumer mapping tool. If the reported service or speed is not available for purchase, you can submit a challenge to correct the map. The data collected will help: • Identify areas of the county where homes and businesses lack high-speed internet connection. • Discover which hou

  The Hartnell College Board of Trustees has removed its COVID-19 vaccine requirement, now referring to it as a recommendation for students and employees. In response to growing concerns over the pandemic the board implemented the requirement for students to register for classes and for staff to begin employment. That requirement is gone as of early Tuesday morning, December 20 although the college still recommends people wear masks whenever they're in indoor places. COVID Testing is still be available at no charge and without an appointment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on Hartnell's Main Campus in the white tents located between buildings C and N. For questions and additional information go online to https://www.hartnell.edu/. 

SALINAS, CA, December 20, 2022– After distributing over $30,000 in educational funds in 2022, the California Rodeo looks forward to again assisting students with their goals. The California Rodeo Association has been supporting youth education since 1986 when a scholarship program was established with Hartnell College. Salinas Valley high school students who are attending or graduating from Hartnell College can apply for the Hartnell scholarship starting in January. The scholarship program run through Community Foundation for Monterey County allows students who are California Rodeo Salinas Committee Members or related to Committee Members to apply and use the scholarship money to attend any college or other post high school education program, including trade school. The Hartnell scholarship program will award continuing Hartnell students $2,500 and transferring students $5,000. The Community Foundation Rodeo scholarship programs will award multiple $5,000 scholarships.     Applications

  On Monday night, December 19, 2022 at approximately 6:15 pm, officers from the King City Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing incident on the 1200 block of Bluff Avenue in King City. Upon arrival, officers encountered a male subject brandishing a knife in a threatening manner. An officer involved shooting incident then occurred. Pursuant to the Monterey County Officer Involved Shooting protocol the King City Police Department has requested that the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office begin an investigation into the incident. All inquiries for information regarding this incident are directed to contact the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. More details will be provided once they become available. 

  The Monterey CHP reports that a 26-year-old male from King City has died as a result of a vehicle versus pedestrian collision in Greenfield on Saturday night, December 17. Officers were paged to southbound Highway 101 and south of Teague Avenue at 9:38 p.m. and discovered that 32-year-old Nathaniel Lugo of King City was driving a 2020 Tesla Model 3 at 70 MPH on southbound US-101 and south of Teague Avenue when he hit an unknown object on the left hand lane. Officers stated that Lugo pulled his car over to the right hand shoulder and looked at a video recorder in his vehicle noticing that he had struck a pedestrian. Lugo called 911 immediately and officers reviewed the footage inside the car which showed that the 26- year-old pedestrian was running towards the vehicle on the left hand lane and was waving his arms erratically. Officers said the pedestrian took steps towards the center lane and was struck by the Tesla Vehicle and was thrown to the right shoulder. The man died from his i

  The King City CHP reports that a 74-year-old King City man was killed on Sunday morning, December 18 as a result of his 1991 Ford Explorer hitting a PG&E utility pole that was driving eastbound on Bitterwater Road outside of King City. Officers say that the the accident took place at 7:30 a.m. west of the San Benito County and indicated that the driver was unable to negotiate a right curve going off the shoulder of the road. The Ford Explorer went down an embankment and overturned going through the utility pole and continued through a barbed wire fence.

  PASO ROBLES, CA – December 10, 2022-Join the Paso Robles City Library’s Book Group discussion of Rules of Civility by Amor Towles on Wednesday, January 18 from 6 pm to 7 pm in the Library Conference Room. New participants are encouraged to attend! Twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent, a young woman in post-Depression era New York, suddenly finds herself thrust into the upper echelons of New York society, where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. This title is available in various formats through the catalog. Registration is required for each participant. Group registrations cannot be processed. For ages 16+. The Library is Monday-Friday 9-7 and Saturday 9-4. Call the library at 805-237-3870 or visit prcity.com/library and the Library Facebook and Instagram sites for more information. 

PASO ROBLES, CA December 10, 2022-Mother Goose on the Loose, better known as Baby Story Time, is back with Miss Carrie on Thursdays at 10:00 am beginning on January 5. Baby Story Time is an early literacy program for ages 0-18 months that uses nursery rhymes and songs to create positive connections between children and their caregivers. Caregivers learn about their child's development while children learn through purposeful play. Due to the nature of this highly interactive hands-on program, one child per caregiver present is recommended. Adults must accompany their child into the Story Room. Space is limited, so please pick up your free admission ticket at the Children's Desk prior to Story Time. The Library is open Monday-Friday 9-7 and Saturday 9-4. Call the library at 805-237-3870 or visit prcity.com/library and the Library Facebook and Instagram sites for more information.

According to the Monterey CHP, a man was tragically killed after his 2000 Honda Accord overturned and ejected him on dirt road in Soledad early Sunday morning. Officers state that the driver was going 60 MPH on the dirt road on the property of off of the 32610 San Vicente Road at around 1:40 a.m. The driver turned the vehicle to the right which caused it to go up a dirt embankment and the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled several times. The driver of was ejected from the vehicle and onto the dirt road. The passenger in the car identified as 34-year-old Luis Cosonteco of King City self-extracted himself from the vehicle and walked south on the dirt roadway to look for help. A witness in the area assisted at the site and began life saving measures on the driver and Cosonteco called 911 to report the accident. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and continued CPR on the driver.

Firefighters with the Pine Canyon Department along with CAL FIRE BEU extinguished a vehicle fire that sparked off of Cattleman Road and Highway 198 outside of King City at 4:50 pm on Sunday, December 18. No injuries were reported. 

22-year-old Osvaldo Sebastian was arrested at 9:40 pm on Saturday night, December 17 off of Franscioni Drive in Greenfield for Domestic Violence, Criminal Threats and Brandishing a Deadly Weapon. The victim was a 26-year-old female.  

  King City, Calif. – One (1) person was arrested for Driving Under the Influence at a DUI Checkpoint on Friday night, December 16, 2022. The DUI checkpoint was held at 625 Division Street from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fourteen (14) people were cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or with a suspended/revoked license, while two-hundred-sixty (260) vehicles were contacted where five (5) sets of field sobriety tests were conducted, resulting in one (1) DUI arrest. DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on reported incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off roads. The next DUI Checkpoint will be held on August 25, 2023. Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

  Monterey County will have a Winter Closure for many operations from December 27 to 30. During this time, many County offices will be closed or have limited hours of operation. This closure or reduced schedule is in addition to designated holidays of December 23 and 26 (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day observed) as well as January 2, 2023 (New Year’s Day observed).  The recess will not close any critical or public safety ‘24/7’ operations. A schedule for all county offices during this time period is available in English and Spanish on the County website www.co.monterey.ca.us.

  MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, December 18 through Saturday, December 24.  Highway 101:  Soledad Overhead: December 19 – December 21 There will be full closure of the off ramp of northbound  Highway 101 at the Soledad Overhead for bridge work  from 6 am to 6 pm. Highway 101 Soledad Overhead: Long-Term There will one long-term lane closure along northbound  Highway 101 at the Soledad Overhead for bridge work. Highway 101: Jolon Road (Northbound) – Teague Avenue: Dec. 19  - Dec. 22 There will be one lane closure along northbound Highway 101 between Jolon Road and  Teague Avenue  for striping operation work along the highway from 8 am to 4 pm. Highway 101: Jolon Road  (Northbound):  December 19 – December 22 There will be full closure of the off and on ramps of northbound  Highway 101 at Jolon Road  for bridge   work  from 8 am to 4 pm. Highway 101: Jolon Road (Southbound):  December 20  - December 22 There will ful

  King City, Calif. – The King City Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint on December 16 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the 600 Block of Division Street. DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road. “Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Sergeant Anthony Shaw said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.” The King City Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal. Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended l

  Some Verizon Wireless customers throughout Monterey County noticed a huge drop in service quality or outages for hours overnight on Wednesday morning, December 14 as Verizon Officials reported a "network disruption" Tuesday, December 13 heading into the evening hours. A Verizon spokesperson said that the disruption affected people "within California". The outages impacted Verizon customers in South Monterey County for multiple hours in King City, Greenfield, Soledad, Lockwood, Jolon and Bradley. Service was fully restored sometime late on Wednesday morning, December 14. The cause of the outages is unknown. 

  December 14, 2022, Paso Robles, CA – Paso Robles Recreation Services and the Paso Robles REC Foundation are currently accepting applications for interested performers for the 2023 Summer Concerts in the Park series. This highly popular family-friendly concert series attracted over 25,000 attendees in the summer of 2022 and has been an annual tradition throughout the area since 2001. All shows are free and feature a wide variety of local and regional musical entertainment in the City Park gazebo. “We were thrilled with the outstanding attendance during our Summer Concerts in the Park Series last summer,” commented Lynda Plescia, Recreation Services Manager for the City of Paso Robles. “Our varied line-up of talented musicians delivered fabulous shows throughout the entire season. We’re excited to assemble another crowd-pleasing schedule of performances for the 2023 season.” Concerts will take place on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m., June 15 through August 24, 2023. Musicians interested in co

  The County of Monterey Board of Supervisors announced on Tuesday, December 13 that Juan Hidalgo has been appointed as the new Agricultural Commissioner for the County. A seasoned Agricultural Commissioner, Juan Hidalgo will succeed outgoing Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales and assume responsibilities on February 6, 2023. Outgoing Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales announced his retirement from the County earlier this year. Mr. Hidalgo is a resident of Monterey County and the current Agricultural Commissioner/ Sealer of Weights and Measures/ Director of Mosquito and Vector Control with the County of Santa Cruz. He has served in this capacity for more than six years. As part of his tenure with the County of Santa Cruz, he has had the opportunity to effectively use his skills and expertise to support and work with growers for continued success in a highly regulated industry. Mr. Hidalgo graduated from the University of California Davis with a Bachelor of Science Degree in

The County of Monterey Board of Supervisors announced on Tuesday, December 13 that Sonia M. De La Rosa has been appointed as the new County Administrative Officer for the County. An experienced public administrative leader, De La Rosa will succeed outgoing CAO Charles McKee and assume responsibilities on January 9, 2023. Outgoing CAO McKee announced his retirement April 26 th. Ms. De La Rosa was raised in Monterey County and has maintained her roots in this community. She is the product of parents who worked in the fields of the Salinas Valley who instilled in her a deep value of hard work and dedication. Through this dedication, Ms. De La Rosa has held a long-standing career with the County of Fresno where her hard work has brought forward many improvements to services which have enhanced the lives of the residents there. She brings a breadth of experience dealing with challenging issues such as homelessness, supporting victims of crime and law enforcement. The selection of Ms. De La

  Pinnacles National Park invites the public to take part in their last drop-in volunteer opportunity of the year on Saturday, December 17 for a drop in service project. This event will be taking place on the WEST side of Pinnacles National Park and they will be meeting at 9am outside of the Visitors Contact Station. Park Staff advises people to bring snacks, a water bottle, and appropriate attire for working outdoors. Work tools will be provided.

  An earthquake shook things up a bit in San Benito County at 4:31 am on Tuesday morning, December 13. The US Geological Survey reports that a 3.4 magnitude earthquake struck just north of Pinnacles National Park. No damages were reported. 

  Brr, it's cold out there! SPCA Monterey County advises pet owners that cold and freezing temperatures can be dangerous or deadly for pets, and our pets are not acclimated to these conditions. The SPCA recommends bringing all pets into the home or a warm, heated garage during this cold snap.  Prolonged exposure to extreme cold and freezing temperatures can lead to life threatening hypothermia (severe lowering of the normal body temperature), especially for smaller dogs, cats, dogs with short hair, and all animals who are acclimated to our typically warmer climate.  Here are tips for keeping your pets safe and comfortable in the cold:     Make sure your pet has a warm and draft-free place to stay. Indoors is best, but if your pet must be kept outside, provide a well-insulated shelter with plenty of dry bedding to keep them warm.      Provide fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration. Ensure that outdoor water sources for pets and livestock are checked frequently as they can freeze

Give a pet a home for the holidays...and forever...during SPCA Monterey County’s A Home for the Holidays Adoption Event December 17-18. During the event, adopters can Pick Their Price on all adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, roosters, rabbits, red-eared sliders, rats, doves, guinea pigs, hamsters, and mice in our shelter. So many wonderful pets are ready and waiting to love you forever.  SPCA Monterey County is located at 1002 Monterey-Salinas Highway, across from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Adoption hours are 11-5 daily. SPCA adoptions include the pet’s spay or neuter surgery, permanent microchip identification, vaccinations, SPCA ID tag, a health evaluation, and more. Regular adoption fees range from $35 to $290.  We recommend arriving early - no holds will be available during the event.  For more information, please call The SPCA at 831-373-2631 or www.Facebook.com/SPCAmc.  Visit www.SPCAmc.org to view adoptable pets!  What:   A Home for the Holidays SPCA Adoption Event

Residents who live in unincorporated areas of Monterey County may see county staff and vehicles in their neighborhoods beginning the week of December 12. The County of Monterey Housing and Community Development Department is working on a Community Housing Conditions Survey and will be visiting various communities in the unincorporated areas to complete this task. Residents may see staff in clearly marked County vehicles parked in front of homes, making notes and possibly taking photographs. County staff participating in this housing survey will be observing conditions only. County personnel WILL NOT: - enter any home - step onto private property - conduct any enforcement as part of their work Residents who see County workers are welcome to inquire as to what they are doing and staff will provide identification and contact information. This work is taking place in the unincorporated areas of the county, which will include communities such as Carmel Valley Village, Castroville, Chualar,

King City Cemetery, an official Wreaths Across America location will host a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday, December 17 starting at 10 am joining more than 3,500 other locations across the Country for National Wreaths Across America Day. Coordinated and led by local volunteers and  fundraising groups, the goal this year is to place 450 wreaths on veterans graves at the King City Cemetery if they have enough donations ($15/wreath) to do this.  This annual event seeks to further the Wreaths Across America mission of Remember, Honor, Teach, ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures.        There will be a color guard from the King City High School Junior ROTC as well as military service members from Fort Hunter Liggett participating in the ceremony.  Everyone is welcome to attend. Volunteers are needed to place the wreaths and are asked to meet at the Cemetery at 9:30 am prior to the ceremony for instructions. Volunteers are also needed to mark the veterans grav

Here is a schedule for County of Monterey Parks and recreation areas for Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25. Jacks Peak, Manzanita, Royal Oaks and Toro Parks will be open to walk-in visitors but closed to to vehicles on Christmas Day to allow all staff members to spend time with their family. Restrooms will be open. San Lorenzo Park camping, restrooms and parking lots will be open on Christmas Day. Lakes Nacimiento and San Antonio will be open for camping, lodging, and day use, using Iron Ranger-Self Pay for payment. Boat ramps will be closed. Laguna Seca Rifle Range will be closed on Christmas Day. Parks staff, volunteers, and rangers will be available should any issues or emergencies arise.

  The City of King is once again partnering District 3 Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, District 30 Assemblyman Robert Rivas, the Monterey County Food Bank, California Water Service, Fort Hunter Liggett, the Salinas Valley Fair and a number of other sponsors and participants with the 2nd Annual Operation Santa Claus event to deliver toys and food to local families in need on Friday, December 16 from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City. Volunteers are still needed.  You can also assist by donating unwrapped new toys at King City City Hall. For questions and additional information go online to kingcity.com. 

  According to the California Highway Patrol a man was arrested on Monday morning, December 12 sometime between 8 am and 10 am in South Monterey County after leading officers on a vehicle chase from Gilroy to Greenfield while possibly driving under the influence. Officers report that the suspect stole a red Prius in Gilroy and then drove south on Highway 101. The chase ended south of Greenfield next to Underwood and the man was taken into custody. The incident is under investigation.