THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS, OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TREE THAT KILLED A NEW YORK WOMAN IN THE BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY RECENTLY. 6 YEARS AGO THE CITY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE TREE'S "POOR" CONDITION, WHEN A POSTGRADUATE STUDENT STUDIED PINE PITCH CANKER IN THE AREA. THAT STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN 1998 WHEN THE TREE WAS GIVEN THE LOWEST HEALTH RANKING. THIS NOVEMBER THE TREE FINALLY GAVE OUT WHEN A SECTION SNAPPED OFF, HITTING AN ELDERLY VISITOR, AND KILLING HER. THE VICTIM'S FAMILY LAWYER HAS NOTIFIED THE CITY, HE PLANS TO FILE A WRONGFUL-DEATH CLAIM. HE SAYS THE CITY HAD AT LEAST THREE YEARS NOTICE THAT THE TREE WAS A HAZARD.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS IN AN OPEN BIDDING PERIOD, FOR A TREE REMOVAL PROJECT. TREES THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED AS HAZARDOUS (DUE TO SUDDEN OAK DEATH), ARE TO BE REMOVED IN PHASE 3 OF THE PROJECT. CONTRACTORS ARE SUBMITTING SEALED BIDS (FOR PHASE 3) UNTIL JANUARY 27TH , AFTER WHICH TIME THE CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED. BIDDERS CAN STILL RECEIVE THE SPECIFICATIONS AND PROPOSAL FORMS, FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AT 701 OCEAN STREET IN SANTA CRUZ.

EXECUTIVES AT THE PEBBLE BEACH GOLF COURSE SAY RECENT MINOR DAMAGE AT THE COURSE WILL NOT IMPACT THE AT&T PEBBLE BEACH NATIONAL PRO-AM FEBRUARY 7-13. THE WORLD FAMOUS GOLF COURSE HAS SEVERAL HOLES EDGED ON THE MONTEREY BAY COASTLINE. THE RECENT WAVE OF STORMS, CAUSED EROSION ON THE FAMED 18TH FAIRWAY. SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE EDGE OF THE COURSE, PLAY HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED.

BOTH SEACLIFF AND NEW BRIGHTEN STATE PARKS HAD TO BE CLOSED AFTER THE RECENT STORMS. SUPERVISING RANGER JASON DEWALT TOLD KSCO NEWS THEY EXPERIENCED DAMAGE TO A NUMBER OF CAMP SITES AFTER A LARGE MUDSLIDE AND SEVERAL TREES CAME DOWN AT THE OCEANSIDE PARKS. DEWALT SAID THE CLEAN-UP IS COMPLETE, AND EVERYTHING IS NOW BACK TO NORMAL .