THE MONTEREY COUNTY SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A PLAN TO BUILD 36 HOUSES, AND ANOTHER GOLF COURSE, IN THE DEL MONTE FOREST. THE PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY?S PROJECT CALLS FOR A NEW 18-HOLE GOLF COURSE, A DRIVING RANGE AND 160 NEW VISITOR-SERVING SUITES. IT WOULD ALSO CREATE 33 RESIDENTIAL LOTS, IN 5 SUBDIVISIONS, AND BUILD 60 EMPLOYEE HOUSING UNITS. THE REVISED DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ADDRESSES POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN SEVERAL AREAS: WATER SUPPLY & DEMAND, TRANSPORTATION & TRAFFIC CIRCULATION, AND THE PROTECTION OF THE ENDANGERED ?YADON'S PIPERIA PLANT?. THIS PROJECT GOES TO THE MONTEREY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT NEXT.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BOB LEE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT GREGORY GUNN WAS DENIED PAROLE THIS WEEK. THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE STATE BOARD OF PRISON TERMS, AT A MEETING AT FOLSOM STATE PRISON. IN 1991 GUNN WAS CONVICTED OF FELONY ASSAULT, AS WELL AS THE 2ND DEGREE MURDER OF JOHN RATLIFF. GUNN WAS SENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN PRISON, FOR THE CRIMES. THE BOARD FOUND THAT GUNN WOULD PRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF DANGER TO SOCIETY IF RELEASED, AND ORDERED THAT GUNN BE GIVEN A NEW PAROLE HEARING DATE IN 5 YEARS.

A MAN, WHO WAS STRUCK ON THE HEAD WITH A BLUNT OBJECT SATURDAY NIGHT IN SALINAS, HAS DIED AS THE RESULTS OF THE INJURIES HE SUFFERED. 33 YEAR-OLD MARCO ANTONIO VELASQUEZ TORREZ WAS ASSAULTED IN THE AREA OF EAST LAKE AND BRIDGE STREETS AROUND 8:20 P.M. SATURDAY. TORREZ SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES SEVERAL DAYS LATER, WHILE BEING CARED FOR AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON THE SATURDAY NIGHT ASSAULT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE SALINAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT URGED THE BOARD TO CONSIDER SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND OTHER DRASTIC STEPS TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGET. THEY RECOMMEND THAT THE $3 MILLION SHORTFALL MUST BE REDUCED. THE BOARD CUT $1.5 MILLION RECENTLY, BUT FURTHER REDUCTIONS ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO AVOID STATE INTERVENTION. THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO FINISH THE TASK, THEY MUST COMPLETE THE CUTS BY DECEMBER 13TH IN ORDER TO SHOW A BALANCED 2004-5 BUDGET BY FEBRUARY.