AN ELDERLY SALINAS MAN DIED IN A FIRE AT HIS HOME ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THE DEATH OF 81 YEAR OLD EUGENE ROLAND IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE MONTEREY COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE AND THE SALINAS FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIREFIGHTERS AT THE HOUSE ADMINISTERED C.P.R. TO ROLAND AFTER RESPONDING TO A NEIGHBOR?S CALL ABOUT THE FIRE. A LIVE-IN CARETAKER AT THE HOME WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. NO DETAILS ABOUT HOW THE FIRE STARTED WERE AVAILABLE, AND AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY (MONDAY).
LAST NIGHT SALINAS MAYOR ANNA CABALLERO ANNOUNCED A CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE CITIES LIBRARIES. SHE HAILED THE FORMATION OF A CITIZEN?S COMMITTEE, CALLED ?RALLY SALINAS?, WHICH SHE WILL LEAD. IF THE GROUP CAN RAISE A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 120 DAYS, THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP EACH LIBRARY OPEN AT LEAST ONE DAY PER WEEK THROUGH DECEMBER 2005. SOME PLEDGES HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, INCLUDING ONE FROM A SALINAS VALLEY IN THE AMOUNT OF 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS, WITH ANOTHER 75 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BE ADDED (IF IT IS MATCHED BY SALINAS RESIDENTS).
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTEREY COUNTY HAS SET UP A SPECIAL BANK ACCOUNT TO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE LIBRARY CAMPAIGN. PEOPLE CAN WRITE CHECKS TO RALLY SALINAS! AND MAIL THEM TO 945 SOUTH MAIN STREET, SALINAS CALIFORNIA 93901.
