A SANTA CRUZ MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO SPEND 9 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A STRING OF COMMERCIAL BURGLARIES ON THE WEST SIDE OF SANTA CRUZ. 37 YEAR-OLD MARK KOCH CONFESSED TO COMMITTING 10 BURGLARIES.

CHARGES ARE ALSO PENDING ON A SECOND MAN ARRESTED FOR AN UNRELATED STRING OF ?DEADBOLT? BURGLARIES. 36 YEAR-OLD LIEF MITCHELL COWLEY IS CURRENTLY IN PRISON ON A PAROLE VIOLATION WHILE HE AWAITS PROCEEDINGS IN THIS CASE.

THE ANNEXATION OF 90 ACRES OF LAND NEAR WATSONVILLE HAS BEEN APPROVED (IN CONCEPT) BY A MAJORITY OF THE SANTA CRUZ LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE CITY?S WESTERN EDGE, AND IS CURRENTLY BEING USED TO GROW LETTUCE AND STRAWBERRIES. WATSONVILLE CITY LEADERS SAY THEY HOPE THE ANNEXATION OF THIS LAND WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PRIVATE INVESTORS TO DEVELOP A BUSINESS PARK ON THE SITE. CITY LEADERS SAY THAT AS MANY AS 20 THOUSAND JOBS COULD BE CREATED THERE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

IT?S DAY 24 OF THE BUS DRIVER STRIKE IN SANTA CRUZ. ALTHOUGH BOTH SIDES SAY THAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, A RESOLUTION HAS NOT YET BEEN FORTHCOMING. THE NEXT BARGAINING SESSION (BETWEEN NEGOTIATORS WITH U.T.U. LOCAL 23, AND THE SANTA CRUZ METRO TRANSIT DISTRICT) IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, STARTING AT 2:30 P.M..

Metro drivers walked off the job Sept. 27 after the board rejected a tentative state-mediated contract agreement. The strike has left about 23,000 riders stranded each day.

Medical premiums and general leave ? an optional, unpaid month off but with benefits ? are two of the biggest negotiating issues as the two sides work toward a three-year contract.

3 PEOPLE, SUSPECTED OF CARRYING OUT A SERIES OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA, HAVE BEEN ARRAIGNED IN A SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COURT ROOM. 32 YEAR-OLD DEMETRIUS LITTLE, 32 YEAR-OLD JENNIFER MONCOVICH, AND 45 YEAR-OLD SHELLY SCHULTE PLEADED INNOCENT (EARLIER THIS WEEK) TO FELONY BURGLARY CHARGES, AS WELL AS AT LEAST ONE COUNT OF BUYING OR SELLING STOLEN PROPERTY. THE 3 WERE ARRESTED AFTER A CACHE OF SUSPECTED STOLEN GOODS WAS FOUND IN THEIR KINGFISHER DRIVE HOME IN WATSONVILLE. ALL 3 ARE DUE BACK IN COURT ON OCTOBER 31ST .