A MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO SPEND 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR KILLING A LIVE OAK MAN. THAT AFTER 33 YEAR-OLD DAMIEN SETH SMITH BEAT AND STRANGLED 49 YEAR-OLD DONALD PAUL KOVAKOVICH IN APRIL OF 2003. KOVAKOVICH HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN ALLOWING SMITH (WHO HAD ONLY BEEN IN TOWN A COUPLE OF MONTHS) TO SLEEP IN HIS HOME.

A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOLEN LATE LAST NIGHT IN WATSONVILLE, WAS RETURNED TO ITS OWNER EARLY THIS MORNING; AND THE PERSON WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE IT IS BEHIND BARS. SANTA CRUZ RESIDENT 25 YEAR-OLD DAVID MATTHEW FLORES WAS CAUGHT, AFTER HE CRASHED THE VEHICLE IN THE 300 BLOCK OF EAST BEACH STREET SHORTLY AFTER 3 A.M. THIS MORNING. FLOREZ WAS BOOKED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL.

A MAP HAS BEEN MADE OF NEARLY 20 SCOTTS VALLEY HOMES, THAT HAVE BEEN DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE 13TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHT CRUISE AND POKER RUN IS SLATED TO BE HELD THIS COMING WEEKEND. THE EVENT IS A FUNDRAISER FOR VALLEY CHURCHES UNITED MISSIONS. REGISTRATION IS SLATED TO BEGIN AT 4:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (831) 438 - 3251.

FIREFIGHTER?S RESPONDED TO SEVERAL CHIMNEY FIRES OVER THE WEEKEND, AND IN ONE CASE THE FIRE CAUSED ABOUT 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THEY SAY THAT?S NOT UNUSUAL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, AS PEOPLE LIGHT FIRES IN THEIR FIREPLACES (WITHOUT CLEANING OUT LAST YEAR?S RESIDUE FIRST).
FIREFIGHTERS RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE GET THEIR CHIMNEY?S CLEANED, AND INSPECTED, EVERY YEAR.