THE PEBBLE BEACH EQUESTRIAN CENTER OPENS ITS 2005 SEASON WEDNESDAY WITH THEIR SPRING HORSE SHOW. THE EVENT CONTINUES THROUGH SUNDAY AND INCLUDES COMPETITION IN DRESSAGE, HUNTERS, AND JUMPERS FOR CHILDREN THROUGH ADULTS. THE EVENT IS FREE TO THOSE WHO PURCHASE OF A PEBBLE BEACH GATE PASS. EVENTS BEGIN AT 8 A.M. EACH DAY.

CALTRANS CREWS WILL BEGIN REMOVING VEGETATION FROM THE MEDIAN AREA BETWEEN THE FREEDOM BOULEVARD AND RIO DEL MAR EXITS NEAR APTOS NEXT WEEK. DURING THE FIRST WEEK, WORK WILL BE DONE OVERNIGHT FROM 9 P.M. TO 6 A.M. SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ONE LANE WILL REMAIN OPEN AT ALL TIMES. THE REMAINING WORK, FROM THE WEEK OF APRIL 11 THROUGH THE END OF THE PROJECT, WILL OCCUR DURING DAYTIME HOURS FROM 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND SHOULDER CLOSURES ONLY. THE 94 THOUSAND DOLLAR PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY APRIL 30TH, A SEPARATE PROJECT FOR REPLANTING ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER WILL SOON FOLLOW. BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ARE IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING MEDIAN BARRIER PROJECT ON HWY. 1 IN THIS LOCATION, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR.

A SAN JOSE MAN IS BACK IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL AFTER ALLEGEDLY DISOBEYING A COURT ORDER. FORMER SALVATION ARMY DRIVER JAIME JON VALENZUELA WAS GIVEN THE ORDER DURING SENTENCING AFTER HIS CONVICTION OF HITTING AND KILLING RUBY MONTES. THE POLICEMAN'S DAUGHTER DIED IN 2002, ON THE SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY 1. 22-YEAR-OLD VALENZUELA WAS GIVEN 6 MONTHS IN JAIL FOR MISDEMEANOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER, AND TOLD NOT TO DRIVE UNLESS THE COURT APPROVED. ALLEGEDLY VALENZELA WAS PULLED OVER TWICE, WHILE DRIVING IN PALO ALTO RECENTLY. HE PLEADED INNOCENT IN COURT TO THE 2 VIOLATIONS OF HIS SENTENCE.

ONCE AGAIN THE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE NOMINEE BRUCE MCPHERSON WAS POSTPONED. THE STATE SENATE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE CONFIRMATION NEARLY 2 WEEKS AGO, BUT ANOTHER DELAY IN THE ASSEMBLY PROMPTED THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE A CALL TO THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER. DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY SPEAKER FABIAN NUNEZ, SAID HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR'S CONCERN. THE HEARING WAS POSTPONED BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE CHAIR HAD MISSED HER PLANE IN COSTA RICA. THE HEARING WAS RESCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING, WITH A POSSIBLE VOTE BY THE FULL ASSEMBLY BY THURSDAY.