A PIONEER OF SANTA CRUZ FISHING WAS BURIED TODAY. VICTOR GHIO JOINED THE FAMILY FISHING PROFESSION IN 1935 ON THE MONTEREY BAY, JUST AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. THE TOUGH AND WIRY VETERAN FISHERMAN WAS A LOCAL LEGEND, AS PART OF THE AREA?S ITALIAN FISHING COLONY. THE LIFELONG BACHELOR, AND NOTORIOUS FLIRT, CONTINUED TO GO FISHING EACH DAY ON HIS BOAT THE CATHERINA G, NAMED AFTER HIS MOTHER. HE DIED THURSDAY AT THE AGE OF 88. VICTOR GHIO IS SURVIVED BY HIS BROTHER, JOHNNIE M. GHIO OF SANTA CRUZ; SISTERS VICTORIA GEMIGNANI, MARY MARSALISI AND GLORIA DELLA MORA, ALL OF SANTA CRUZ; AS WELL AS MANY NIECES, NEPHEWS, GRANDNIECES AND GRANDNEPHEWS.

A SALINAS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WAS HELD MONDAY NIGHT TO DISCUSS THE CLOSURE OF SOME SCHOOLS. A GROUP OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS ATTENDED TO VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION TO ANY CLOSURES. THE BOARD HAS PUT LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT THE TOP OF THE CLOSURE LIST, AND SAY AT LEAST 2 MORE SCHOOLS MUST BE ADDED. THE BOARD MEETS ON APRIL 18TH TO CONTINUE CONSIDERATION ON SCHOOL CLOSURES.

SALINAS POLICE OFFICERS ARE ASKING WITNESSES (TO A FRIDAY NIGHT SHOOTING) TO CONTACT THEM WITH DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. 19 YEAR-OLD LUCAS FLORES DIED AS THE RESULT OF BEING SHOT IN THE FACE AROUND 9:15 P.M. THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE IN THE 800 BLOCK OF EAST STREET. THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT?S ANONYMOUS TIP LINE NUMBER IS:
(831) 775 - 4222

CALIFORNIA VINTNERS INCREASED THEIR SHIPMENTS IN 2004 FOR AN ESTIMATED $15 BILLION WORTH OF WINE TO THE DOMESTIC MARKET. THE SAN FRANCISCO-BASED WINE INSTITUTE, RELEASED THE FIGURES TUESDAY, SHOWING CALIFORNIA WINERIES SHIPPED 428 MILLION GALLONS OF WINE TO U.S. MARKETS LAST YEAR. THAT'S A 3 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 2003. RED WINES EDGED OUT WHITE WINES IN TERMS OF CONSUMER PREFERENCE. EXPERTS SAY THE INCREASE IN WINE SALES ARE DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS INCLUDING A RECOVERING ECONOMY, SUPER VALUE WINES, INCREASED WINE CONSUMPTION, AND GOOD REVIEWS FOR CALIFORNIA VINTAGES. AN EARLIER REPORT ALSO SHOWED AN INTERNATIONAL INCREASE IN U.S. WINE SALES OF 28 PERCENT IN 2004. ABOUT 95 PERCENT OF THAT WINE CAME FROM CALIFORNIA