Massive memorial honors fallen Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy
APTOS—Hundreds gathered Wednesday for Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller's memorial at Cabrillo College under brilliant sunny conditions.
Gutzwiller, a former Cabrillo student and Aptos resident, was gunned down while on duty June 6 in Ben Lomond.
The event began at 7:45am with a...
Sheriff’s deputy, security guard thwart inmate escape
SANTA CRUZ — A Santa Cruz County Jail inmate was recaptured Monday during an attempted escape on a visit to Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dee Baldwin said.
CZU Complex now state’s 9th-most destructive fire ever recorded
SCOTTS VALLEY—The CZU August Lightning Complex has destroyed 1,483 structures as of Tuesday morning, making it the ninth-most destructive fire ever recorded in the state.
The majority of those structures are single-family homes in the Santa Cruz mountain towns of Boulder Creek and Bonny Doon,...
Housing voucher program at risk unless Congress acts
Hundreds of Santa Cruz County families could lose their federal rental assistance as early as December unless Congress restores funding to a pandemic-era housing voucher program, local officials warned Tuesday.
The agency provides federally funded rental vouchers to nearly 6,000 households in Santa Cruz County,...
Community briefs
Hed: Free STEM camp offered for Watsonville youth
Children of the Fields, a local nonprofit focused on expanding educational opportunities for underserved youth, will host a free two-day STEM camp for children ages 6-12 on Aug. 3-4 at the Watsonville Community Center, 275 Main St.
The...
Monica Martinez named Pride Month honoree
Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez has been selected as state Sen. John Laird’s 2026 Pride Month honoree and was recognized Tuesday at the California State Capitol during the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus's annual Pride Month celebration.
Martinez, who represents Santa Cruz County’s Fifth District...
Man arrested for celebratory gunfire gone awry
FREEDOM—A Freedom man was arrested Saturday after a bullet he fired during a July 4 celebration ricocheted off the ground and entered a nearby residence, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said.
The bullet came within inches of a 10-year-old girl in her Miller...
Smaller classes, fewer days lead district’s plans for fall semester
WATSONVILLE—Many students unable to return to class when school starts on Aug. 14 due to Covid-19 restrictions will attend a virtual academy, an all-online option created by Pajaro Valley Unified School District as it plans for the coming academic year.
The PVUSD Board of Trustees...
Changes possible for Bay View Hotel, other properties
APTOS — The iconic Bay View Hotel in Aptos is one of several properties being considered for conversion to long-term rental units.
County officials are looking into a plan to convert the 149-year-old building at 8041 Soquel Drive, along with eight properties in Aptos, Felton and Boulder Creek
Nominations for Be The Difference Awards open
The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County has opened the nomination period for the 15th Annual Be the Difference Awards. The awards honor the individuals, groups, nonprofits and businesses that transform Santa Cruz County through volunteerism.
People can share their stories of inspiration by nominating...
