Michael Escobar guilty on all counts
WATSONVILLE—Five years after Michel Escobar gunned down a rival gang member, and killed a young girl when one of his bullets went astray, a jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree murder and several special allegations.
Escobar, now 36, will likely be sentenced to...
Blending color and light
Santa Cruz artist Shirley Lehner-Rhoades is currently showing 13 of her paintings on the first floor of the Santa Cruz County Building. As part of the ongoing exhibits put on by the Arts Council Santa Cruz County, the works will be on display through March 16.
For information, call 566-5741 or visit www.lehner-rhoades.com or www.scottsvalleyartcenter.com.
Artist raises $1,000 for Ukrainian children through Open Studios
APTOS—Local artist and Pajaro Valley Arts exhibit coordinator Hedwig Heerschop recently raised $1,000 during the Open Studios Art Tour for children in Ukraine.
Heerschop, a fine art photographer and printmaker, raffled off one of her photograph etchings, depicting a blue and yellow sunflower. She sold...
American Legion boosts local students
Watsonville High School juniors Michelle Sanchez and Brianna Barrera were selected for California Boys and Girls State by Edward H. Lorenson American Legion Post 121 of Watsonville.
Commander Jose Medina, Adjutant Barbara Adamski and Historian Russell Gray chose the two students for their “Leadership...
Pedestrian struck, killed on Highway 1
APTOS—A man was struck and killed by an SUV early Thursday morning on Highway 1 in Aptos.
California Highway Patrol Officer Alyssa Gutierrez said the victim was wandering around the southbound lanes on foot around 6:20am when he was struck by a Honda CRV driven...
Dead body found on Manresa Beach
LA SELVA BEACH — Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating after a woman’s body was found on Manresa Beach Friday morning.
Alleged Sheriff’s deputy killer makes first appearance in federal court
SAN FRANCISCO—The Ben Lomond man accused of killing two law enforcement officials—and trying to kill two others—in Santa Cruz County and the City of Oakland, made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday.
Steven Carrillo did not enter a plea during the short hearing in...
Central Coast, Bay Area fires have leveled more than 1,000 structures
Four major fires throughout the Central Coast and greater Bay Area have destroyed at least 1,055 structures, various Cal Fire agencies announced Saturday morning.
The SCU Lightning Complex, the River Fire, the Carmel Fire and the CZU August Lightning Complex have chewed through 486,305 acres...
Santa Cruz County limits syringe distribution
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors retooled the county’s syringe exchange program during its Dec. 10 meeting, limiting the amount that people can trade for clean ones on behalf of other people.
This practice, known as secondary exchange, is believed by advocates to...
Palacios takes county’s top job
Former Watsonville City Manager Carlos Palacios has been named the County Administrative Officer for Santa Cruz County.






















