Local News

Even as his life slipped away, Ben Lomond native Alex Fritch gave his wife Terra one final gift: A goodbye. “It’s the biggest gift,” she told the Press Banner, describing how they got to embrace in the hospital. “He grabbed my hand. He cried. And...

Scotts Valley Police Department officers will visit Scotts Valley Middle School and Scotts Valley High School over the next several weeks to provide bicycle, pedestrian and e-bike safety education. The program, which has traditionally included bicycle safety, has been expanded to address the growing popularity...

‘Wolf Creek’ radio drama to premiere on KBCZ A new five-episode radio drama, “Wolf Creek,” will premiere on KBCZ 89.3 FM Boulder Creek Community Radio Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. The series was written, produced and sound-designed by Darren Lee, a local KBCZ DJ, sound...

Updated June 27, 2022 at 5:22pm: 90% containment. A fire burning along Highway 17 was 90% contained at 5:20pm after burning two acres Monday, authorities said. Cal Fire learned of the blaze near the summit—on the Santa Cruz County side in the Alta Vista Lane area—at...

The end of the month seemed to approach faster than usual for Shirli McLaughlin. The 76-year-old Felton resident, a longtime Ben Lomond shopkeeper, was told her current rental was being sold. “It’s an important word, ‘home’—don’t you think?” she asked rhetorically, May 27. “That, and...

On Tuesday, new Scotts Valley City Manager Mali LaGoe went for a tour of the library building currently undergoing a full renovation and was greeted by a familiar face. Yolande Wilburn, who just succeeded Susan Nemitz as director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries after overseeing...

Santa Cruz County is seeing a decline in its cannabis industry, with tax revenues falling far short of projections for the 2021-22 fiscal year. County officials say that current revenues of $1.68 million are lagging behind projections by more than $1 million, and by $1.6...

Mali LaGoe caught Scotts Valley City Council off-guard with some major announcements at the body’s regularly-scheduled meeting today. “After extensive public outreach, it’s been determined that the highest and best use of the Siltanen ballfields is to immediately convert them to the largest dog park...

Former Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin is running for the 28th Assembly District in the upcoming June 7 primary after receiving the nod from current representative Mark Stone, who is reportedly not seeking reelection. Over the past few months, Pellerin has encouraged women to...

Monte Sereno has voted to appoint Kirsten Powell, Scotts Valley’s top legal official, as its new city attorney. The new post in Silicon Valley, however, doesn’t mean she’s quitting her gig with the Santa Cruz County municipality. On June 6, Monte Sereno City Council voted unanimously...