Supervisors look to ease CZU rebuilding challenges
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal that, if given final approval when it returns to the board in September, would help ease some requirements for victims of the CZU fire trying to rebuild their homes.
Under current County...
Scotts Valley city projects inch toward completion | Council Briefs
In her first Scotts Valley City Council meeting since announcing she was moving on to a job in Coronado, city manager Tina Friend on Aug. 4 brought good news about a couple of local projects.
“First, if you’ve been coming into town on Mt. Hermon...
Santa Cruz County health officer says mask order won’t change behavior
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Saying that she has not yet seen reliable data that a countywide masking mandate would alter personal behavior or lower Covid-19 cases, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said she does not plan to issue a new order any time...
Scotts Valley crime rates rise in pandemic-impacted year
While assaults dropped by 27% last year in Scotts Valley, other crimes increased—including burglaries almost doubling, according to stats presented to Scotts Valley City Council by Police Chief Steve Walpole, Jr., Aug. 4.
Other so-called Part 1 Crimes that increased between 2019 and 2020 included...
Brothers collecting used games to send to Kenya
There was a time when “Call of Duty: Black Ops,” “Forza Horizon” and “Halo 3” all got regular rotations in the Schneider brothers’ Xbox 360.
But by the time Andrew had turned 13 and Ethan hit 15 they’d moved on to newer games and other...
Felton Fire event kicks off application process for potential first responders
The sun glinted off of the fire apparatus that had been pulled out of the Felton Fire Protection District’s station. On Sunday, teams of volunteer firefighters were outside and inside the station’s bay, helping to usher and spot participants through a series of practical...
Local schools require masks indoors
As Tanya Krause, the superintendent of Scotts Valley Unified School District, prepared her welcome letter for parents, she began how she might have in any other year: “We are pleased and excited to start school with students on campus, Wednesday, August 11, for full-time,...
Zayante Fire Chief retires after nearly three decades with district
ZAYANTE—After more than 27 years of service to the Zayante Fire Protection District, John Stipes hung up his white helmet for the final time on July 23.
Stipes, 59, joined Zayante Fire in 1994 as a volunteer firefighter. He retires with the longest current tenure...
Scotts Valley roller derby team wins second consecutive national title
Scotts Valley’s Santa Cruz Derby Groms female division team, the Gromshells, claimed their second consecutive Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) National Championship on July...
