KRKC COUNTRY

  Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will be holding its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Cork & Plough Restaurant located at 200 Broadway in King City. The guest speakers will be mayor of King City, Mike LeBarre and mayor of Greenfield, Robert “Bob” White.  They will review the past year in King City and Greenfield and what the plans are for the future.  Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. For reservations and further information call (831) 385-1333 or email karenjleonhard@gmail.com

  SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on January 31 that Salinas Valley Prison Inmates Roberto Carlos Cortez and Juan Jose Bueno, 30, were each convicted by a jury of First-Degree Murder and Possession of a Weapon. Juan Jose Bueno was also convicted of Assault by a Life Prisoner. The Honorable Stephanie Hulsey presided over the trial. Bueno admitted he had previously been convicted of four “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes Law, including a prior conviction for Murder. Bueno faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Cortez admitted he had previously been convicted of four “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes Law. Cortez faces a maximum sentence of 75 years to life in prison. On March 21, 2023, Cortez and Bueno participated in a two on one stabbing of inmate Steven Lovely during recreational time in the day room. They used weapons to stab Lovely close to 50 times until he was unresp...

  The County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner’s Office is accepting applications for the AG Pass Program until March 31, 2025.   With an AG Pass card badge, commercial agricultural operators are able to display this badge to emergency staff at disaster roadblocks for limited emergency access activities on to their property. Scan the QR code above to visit the AG Pass webpage and learn about the program’s eligibility criteria, application submittal requirements and how you can apply. Apply for an AG Pass online or pick up a paper application at the following locations: • Agricultural Commissioner’s Office at 1428 Abbott St, Salinas CA • Agricultural Commissioner’s South County Office at 522 North 2nd Street, King City CA • Monterey County Farm Bureau at 1140 Abbott St, Suite C, Salinas CA • Castroville Library, 11140 Speegle St., Castroville, CA 95012 • Supervisor Lopez, District 3 Office, 599 El Camino Real (inside Greenfield City Hall), Greenfield CA   Click here to...

  SPCA of Monterey County is offering free mobile spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats in South Monterey County. These free clinics for South County residents are sponsored by our friends at Hitchcock Road Animal Services and staffed by SPCA Monterey County’s veterinary team. This is in addition to our low-cost Veterinary Clinic at the SPCA, available by appointment Monday through Friday every week, which spays and neuters over 8,000 animals every year and offers free feral cat surgeries year-round.  These free mobile clinics are open to dogs, feral cats, and friendly cats located in South Monterey County, from Chualar south to the county lines. As always, our affordable Veterinary Clinic at the SPCA remains open to all Monterey County residents.  Our upcoming free surgeries in South Monterey County include: Wednesday, Feb 12: King City - King City Recreation Center, 401 Division St. Wednesday, Feb 26: Soledad - Soledad Lions Club, 161 Park St. Wednesday...

  SALINAS – Rising costs of regulatory compliance for lettuce growers indicate a 63.7% increase in the past seven years in a study commissioned by Monterey County Farm Bureau prepared by CalPoly San Luis Obispo professors Lynn Hamilton, Ph.D., and Michael McCullough, Ph.D.    This new study updated their regulatory costs study from 2017 with additional regulatory program requirements implemented in the intervening years.    Increased regulatory compliance requirements through 2024 bring lettuce grower total costs of regulation to $1,600 per acre, an increase of 63.7% from the 2017 study and a 1366% increase since 2006 (date of the original study).   This indicates that regulatory costs are now 12.6% of total production costs, while farmgate values for lettuce increased only 0.37% from 2017 to 2024.   Increased regulatory compliance mandates since 2017 come from the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, Irrigated Lands Program, equipment emissions reg...

  According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 4:07 AM on Thursday morning, January 16, 2025, deputies at the Monterey County Jail located an incarcerated person in their housing cell who was unresponsive. Deputies immediately began performing life saving measures on the subject, while emergency services personnel from allied fire and ambulance agencies were also requested to assist. Paramedics arrived on the scene and continued life saving measures. The incarcerated person was pronounced dead in the Monterey County Jail. The decedent has been identified as 37-year-old Elisa Sanchez of King City, California. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has requested assistance from the Coroner Unit of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office to perform the post-mortem forensic examination and determine the decedent’s cause and manner of death. No further information will be released at this time.

  WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, January 15 U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will distribute $14,346,751 to the City of Santa Cruz to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.   “As the threat of climate change becomes more severe, it is important to make investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment. Thanks to this federal funding, the City of Santa Cruz will be able to increase access to EV charging infrastructure for residents and visitors alike. Even when there is partisan talk questioning the climate crisis, we vow to continue following sound science and supporting the allocation of federal resources for sustainable projects that boost our local economies,” said Reps. Lofgren and Panetta.   The project, known as the Monterey Bay Region Equitable EV Charging Project, aims to install EV charging ports at 44...

SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on January 15 that as they observe National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, the District Attorney’s Office is reaffirming its commitment to combat human trafficking and support survivors in the community. Human trafficking is a grave offense that destroys lives and families, and it continues to plague communities everywhere, including right here in Monterey County. Throughout this month, the Monterey County DA's Office is emphasizing the need for increased vigilance, public education, and stronger partnerships to end trafficking in all its forms. We stand in solidarity with survivors and are committed to ensuring that traffickers face justice. In honor of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the District Attorney’s Office is facilitating a number of local efforts to bring necessary and invaluable resources to their community. These efforts will help the local law enforcement c...

  SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on January 15 that 46-year-old Jubentino Matias Aguilar of Greenfield, was sentenced to 40 years in state prison by Judge Pamela Butler. On April 11, 2023, the victims mother brought them to the Greenfield Police Department after her daughters, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 – aged 8 and 12 - told her that the defendant, who had previously been a member of the household, had sexually molested them while he had lived with the family. Officers obtained detailed statements from the girls, in which they described multiple sexual assaults by the defendant. Both girls provided invaluable assistance to the officers investigating their case. After the defendant was arrested, he made a statement to officers in which he admitted to engaging in sexual contact with the 2 young girls. The defendant entered pleas of no contest to 4 counts of Forcible Lewd Acts on a Child. The charges constitute four “strikes” unde...

  Monterey County Farm Bureau supports their local farmworker community during recent Customs and Border Protection actions in California counties.   Participating at the Wednesday, January 15 press conference at the County’s Administrative Offices in Salinas, Monterey County Farm Bureau’s Executive Director reiterated the importance of their essential workforce in the Salinas Valley.   “Farming depends on a stable and reliable workforce, one not under threat. We appreciate the farmworkers’ vital contributions to the national food supply as essential workers,” stated Norm Groot. “We cannot change the fact that farmworkers were considered essential during the pandemic; the circumstances remain the same, these are essential workers.”   Monterey County Agriculture is a $4.3 billion-dollar economic sector that depends on 55,000 farmworkers to harvest crops each year, primarily immigrants; some have resided in Monterey County communities for decades...

  There will be a recycling event for wreaths that were placed on veterans graves on December 14.  Volunteers can bring hand clippers and meet at the King City Cemetery located at 1010 Broadway in King City at 10am on Saturday, January 18. Farm animal owners can pick up the foliage that day, while students can participate and will receive community service credit.  Please contact Kathy Imamura, (408) 802-4437 for further information.

  SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on January 10 that Judge Rafael Vazquez sentenced Kevin James Powell to 76 years to life in state prison for first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. On September 14 of 2022, the dead victim and his brother were in town for work staying at a Motel 6 in King City. That night, after returning from dinner at their sister’s house, they stood outside their room talking. Meanwhile, Powell parked his car nearby. The victims paid no attention as Powell—a stranger to the victims—stepped out, rummaged in the rear passenger seat of his car, and then suddenly produced a three-foot axe and attacked them with it. One victim ran and escaped with minor injuries; the other tripped, suffered serious injuries from the assault, and later died at the hospital. On December 11, 2024, a jury convicted Powell of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. Furthermore, the jury found Powell used ...

  According to King City Police Department, on December 30, 2024 a 17-year-old minor female victim reported that she had attended a party on the 100 Block of Bedford Circle on December 24, 2024. During the party, the suspect provided her with alcohol. He then pulled the victim into a bedroom, forcibly removed her clothing and had sexual intercourse with her against her will. This case was investigated by the King City Police Department Investigations Unit which resulted in the apprehension and arrest on January 6, 2025 of the suspect identified as 21-year-old Jesus Oseguera Briseno of King City. Briseno was also booked into the Monterey County Jail charged with Rape, Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor and Kidnapping. Anyone with further information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the King City Police Department at (844) 844-3382; Sergeant Josh Partida (831) 385-4848 or jpartida@kingcity.com; or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME. Your call may remain completely ano...

  1 vehicle overturned off of Peach Road and Thorne Road in the Greenfield area at 10:42 am on Monday morning, January 6. The driver and lone occupant received minor injuries as a result of the wreck and was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. 

The County of Monterey Health Department is pleased to announce that they are the recipient of a $206,065 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its Public Health Cannabis Education Program. The grant will fund community educational outreach and a public awareness campaign to engage teens and young adults, inform them of the dangers of driving while under the influence of cannabis, and reduce instances of drug impaired driving.   "We are excited to receive this grant, which will allow us to enhance our efforts to prevent drugged driving and promote safer roadways,” said Elaine Narciso, Health Program Coordinator, County of Monterey Health Department. “With education and awareness focused on youth and young adults, we aim to reduce crashes and injuries caused by from driving while high. Our goal is to shift community norms around driving while under the influence and promote safer driving behaviors." According to the Centers for Disease Control and...