MONTEREY COUNTY RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE CONTROVERSIAL RANCHO SAN JUAN PROJECT IN NOVEMBER. BASED ON CONTINUED CONCERNS OVER LITIGATION, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DECIDED NOT TO REPEAL THEIR DECEMBER APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT, AND INSTEAD TO PUT THE PROJECT TO A POPULAR VOTE. ALTHOUGH THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO PUT IT ON A MAIL-ONLY BALLOT IN JUNE, THEY DECIDED TO PUT IT ON THE REGULAR NOVEMBER BALLOT. THAT ELECTION WILL BE HELD NOVEMBER 8TH.

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT BEAR GULCH CAVE AT PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT WILL BE COMPLETELY OPEN THIS MONTH. HOWEVER FROM APRIL 1ST THROUGH MAY 14th, ONLY THE LOWER HALF OF THE CAVE WILL BE OPEN. FROM MAY 15TH THROUGH JULY 15TH THE CAVE WILL BE CLOSED, SO THAT THE LOCAL COLONY OF TOWNSEND BIG-EARED BATS CAN RAISE THEIR YOUNG. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO:

www.nps.gov/pinn

THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION HAS ISSUED ANOTHER WARNING TO MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERVISORS, REGARDING THE SUPERVISORS? PLANS TO APPROVE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE DEL MONTE FOREST. COMMISSIONERS WANT SUPERVISORS TO AWAIT THE COMMISSION?S REVIEW OF THE LOCAL COASTAL PLAN CONTAINED IN MEASURE A. ALTHOUGH VOTERS APPROVED MEASURE A BY 64 PERCENT, THE COASTAL COMMISSION HAS NOT YET REVIEWED THE MEASURE, FOR ITS CONSISTENCY WITH THE LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM.

EVEN IF THE COMMISSION CERTIFIES MEASURE A, THE PROJECT STILL WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE COASTAL PROGRAM (AS AMENDED). UNDER STATE LAW, THE COUNTY HAS THE AUTHORITY ONLY TO ISSUE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ITS COASTAL PLAN.

A PACIFIC GROVE MAN PLEADED GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES RELATED TO A CASE OF INTERNET SEX. THE 37-YEAR-OLD MAN ADMITTED TO HAVE ENGAGED IN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONVERSATIONS ON AOL INSTANT MESSENGER WITH SOMEONE HE BELIEVED WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL. HOMAYUN AHMAD TRIED TO PERSUADE HER TO MEET HIM BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH LAST YEAR. OF 2004. HE IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE A 5-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE AS PART OF A PLEA AGREEMENT AT HIS APRIL 4TH SENTENCING.