IN RESPONSE TO OLD BUILDINGS, LOW STAFFING LEVELS AND NOT HAVING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, SALINAS FIRE HAS REQUESTED 9.1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.  STRUCTURE FIRES IN SALINAS CAN ALMOST VIRTUALLY DEPLETE THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESOURCES, AND WHEN LOOKING TO OTHER CITIES TO RESPOND IT CAN TAKE TWICE AS LONG FOR CREWS TO ARRIVE ON SCENE.   ACCORDING TO FIRE CHIEF RODRIGUEZ, THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS THE 9.1 MILLION TO FILL 33 MORE POSITIONS, BUY THE PROPER EQUIPMENT AND FIX FAILING FIRE STATIONS.

A HOLLISTER MAN WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT AFTER AUTHORITIES DISCOVERED A STOLEN FIREARM IN HIS CAR.   21-YEAR-OLD ANTONIO GODINEZ AND A 17-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER WERE STOPPED BY SANTA CRUZ GANG TASK FORCE OFFICERS JUST BEFORE 9 P-M.     GODINEZ HAD A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER THE STOLEN RIFLE WAS DISCOVERED IN HIS CAR’S TRUNK.    HE WAS BOOKED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF POSSESSION OF A STOLEN FIREARM AND POSSESSION OF A CONCEALED FIREARM WITHIN A VEHICLE.

THE JURORS DEADLOCKED IN JODI ARIAS’ MURDER TRIAL RESULTING IN A MISTRIAL THAT WAS ANNOUNCED THURSDAY.   THE JURY FAILED TO REACH A VERDICT AGAINST ARIAS THE WOMAN CONVICTED OF BRUTALLY MURDERING HER EX-BOYFRIEND IN PHOENIX ARIZONA.   A NEW PANEL OF JURORS WILL ATTEMPT TO REACH A DECISION ABOUT A SENTENCE IN A RETRIAL SCHEDULED FOR JULY 18^th.

A WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE 19^th ANNUAL WATSONVILLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL POSTER CONTEST.   OUT OF 23 ENTRIES THE JUDGING PANEL SELECTED THE TOP 3.  OUT OF THE TOP 3 ENTRIES, PRISCILLA MARTINEZ WAS CHOSEN AS THE WINNER WITH HER MIXED MEDIA PIECE “BERRY SWEET RIDE.” PRISCILLA, A NATIVE OF WATSONVILLE HAS BEEN CREATING ART HER WHOLE LIFE.     FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE POSTER CONTEST OR THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL GO ONLINE TO WWW.CELEBRATESTRAWBERRIES.COM