ON MONDAY STATE PARK OFFICIALS UNVEILED THE “PARKS FORWARD” INITIATIVE AIMING TO ASSESS THE UNDERFUNDED STATE PARKS SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA.   THE INITIATIVE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT MAKING STATE PARKS ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AGAIN.   “PARKS FORWARD” SEARCHES FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO ENHANCE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE FOR STATE PARKS.

A 2^nd SUSPECT IN CONNECTION WITH TWO ARMED ROBBERIES OF BUSINESS ON WILLIAMS ROAD IN SALINAS WAS ARRESTED MONDAY.  AT ABOUT 9 A-M OFFICERS LOCATED 27-YEAR-OLD JOE CASTRO NEAR MIAMI AND PALOMA AVENUES.   HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT AND BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL ON SUSPICION OF ARMED ROBBERY WITH GANG ENHANCEMENTS.   PREVIOUSLY, MANUEL AGUILAR HAD BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ROBBERIES.  BOTH MEN ARE KNOWN SALINAS GANG MEMBERS.

A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN APTOS IS CLOSING AFTER THIS SUMMER DUE TO IT NEVER QUITE RECOVERING FROM THE NATIONAL RECESSION IN 2008.     IN 2008 APTOS ACADEMY HAD 135 STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH-GRADE.    NOW, IT HAS LESS THAN 80 STUDENTS AND OVER THE WEEKEND PARENTS WERE NOTIFIED THE SCHOOL WILL CLOSE VIA A LETTER.    APTOS ACADEMY HAS 15 FACULTY MEMBERS ON STAFF.

A WOMAN WAS ARRESTED IN SALINAS AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SELL DRUGS ON CRAIGSLIST.   MEMBERS OF THE VIOLENCE SUPPRESSION UNIT ARRESTED 33-YEAR-OLD CORING FUENTES ON FRIDAY.   INVESTIGATORS FIRST RESPONDED TO AN AD OFFERING TO SELL THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE NORCO ONLINE.   POLICE ARRANGED A MEETING ON THE 200 BLOCK OF KERN STREET AND FUNTES RESPONDED.  AFTER THE MEETING FUENTES WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF SELLING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.