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Fitness club to open in SV

Noah Rhoads

A record-breaking number of voters cast ballots in the recent midterm election- in both Santa Cruz County, across the state, and nationwide. With 76.3 percent of registered voters in Santa Cruz County casting a ballot, compared to only 51.9 percent in the 2014 midterm election, last month’s voter turn-out was the highest for a midterm election in Santa Cruz County history, breaking the old record of 70.8 percent voter participation rate in 1982.   

The former treasurer of San Lorenzo Valley Middle School’s Panther Club fundraising organization was convicted on June 19 of embezzling more than $9,300 from the club. A 42-year-old woman was found guilty of one count of grand theft embezzlement by Judge John Salazar in Santa Cruz County Superior Court. She was sentenced to 36 months of probation, 60 days in jail, 300 hours of community service and is required to repay all the money taken — $9,384.03 — plus several fines and fees totaling $350. The court recommended a work-release program for the woman. According to the sentencing, the woman is not allowed to possess financial documents that are not her own, and is required to report the conviction to any employer if the position includes handling money. During the June 19 hearing, she provided a check for $9,300 to a representative from the school. The final $84.03 was still to be paid. “We’re heartened that she did pay back the restitution,” said prosecutor Nicole Ellen Jones. “We could not have done this case without the cooperation of parents at the school and the Panther Club.” According to court documents, the woman made more than 10 unauthorized withdrawals from the Cougar Club’s bank account at Union Bank while she was treasurer between October 2010 and August 2011. Also according to notes taken by the court, the woman was having health and psychological problems at the time. The woman's name has been redacted from this story.