Local schools battered by winter Covid-19 surge
Up until mid-December, the Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District had seen just a single case of Covid-19 in its student body this school year. And before that, it had only recorded one other case during the entire pandemic. Now, the school system currently...
Key Community Hero Retires
Valley Churches United (VCU) has been assisting members of the San Lorenzo Valley community since 1985. From financial support to a plentiful food pantry, residents who have fallen on hard times have turned to VCU in times of trouble, finding respite in the nonprofit’s...
Congressman Panetta Visits Santa Cruz Mountains Communities
Now that the congressional boundary debate’s been settled—with the old 18th and 20th districts seemingly evaporating from the local map, leaving in their place the new 19th District—politicians have begun adjusting to the new reality.
And for current Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, who’s represented the...
Supervisors approve independent auditor for Sheriff’s Office
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to hire an independent auditor for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office who would investigate such issues as citizen complaints and use of force.
The move followed a report by...
County’s climate action plan will undergo update
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors took the first step in updating the county’s climate action strategy, a response to global warming and its effects on infrastructure and the people who live here.
Updating the County’s Climate Action Plan—first adopted in 2013—is...
Woman falls to death from cliff following Highway 1 crash
NORTH COAST—The 40-year-old Santa Cruz woman who fell to her death following a mysterious two-car crash Monday on the North Coast of Santa Cruz County has been identified as Wendy Edwards, according to Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators have...
At-home Covid-19 tests change pandemic response
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—At least 4,000 Santa Cruz County residents have been infected with Covid-19 during the current winter surge sparked by the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.
That figure posted to the County Health Services Agency’s online dashboard, however, is likely vastly...
Convicted Rapist Seeking Housing in Bonny Doon Back in Court
A man who was convicted of rape and looking to move into Bonny Doon had another hearing in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Monday.
Judge Syda Cogliati approved Michael Cheek’s placement at a home on Wild Iris Lane in November, but the District Attorney’s Office...
Animal welfare, police reform among new state laws
CALIFORNIA—Every year, state lawmakers send hundreds of bills to the governor in hopes they will be signed into law.
Many do not make the cut, and fall victim to the state’s lengthy legislative process. But last year 770 bills became law, and many became effective...
Animal shelters deal with influx of rabbits, ‘pocket pets’
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Animal shelters across California are currently seeing an influx of rabbits and other “pocket pets” being surrendered and put up for adoption.
Erika Smart, program and development manager at Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS), says that the increase in rabbits, guinea pigs,...
As Build Back Better Plan Stalls, Scotts Valley Digs Into Piggy...
It was like music to the ears of Scotts Valley politicians, last summer, when Democrats announced they’d be setting $1.4 million aside to replace...
