AN 8TH GRADE BOY WAS ARRESTED FOR BRINGING A LOADED GUN TO SCHOOL. THE INCIDENT REPORTEDLY HAPPENED AT THE PACIFIC GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIDAY. SCHOOL OFFICIALS REPORT THAT THE 13-YEAR-OLD BOY BROUGHT A .25-CALIBER, SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL AND CLIP ONTO CAMPUS. HE WAS ARRESTED MONDAY AFTER SHOWING OFF THE WEAPON TO SEVERAL CLASSMATES, AND STORING IT IN HIS LOCKER. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES THE BOY'S FATHER (WHO OWNS THE GUN) COULD ALSO FACE CHARGES.

A 24-YEAR-OLD FELTON RESIDENT WAS ARRESTED WHEN HE CAME TO THE SANTA CRUZ CHP OFFICE, TO COLLECT HIS WALLET. APPARENTLY THE FRONT DESK OFFICER SMELLED THE STRONG ODOR OF ALCOHOL COMING FROM BURKETT, AND A DUI INVESTIGATION BEGAN. BURKETT WAS FOUND TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE, AND SINCE HE'D DRIVEN HIMSELF TO THE OFFICE, HE WAS ARRESTED. BY THE WAY, BURKETT'S WALLET WAS WITH THE CHP FOR SAFE KEEPING, SINCE 2 DAYS EARLIER HE WAS ALSO ARRESTED...FOR DUI.

A HIT AND RUN IN SANTA CRUZ, LEAD TO A CHP PURSUIT TUESDAY MORNING. AROUND 10 A.M. LINDA ITALIA, A 29-YEAR-OLD SANTA CRUZ RESIDENT, FLED FROM THE SCENE OF A COLLISION, THEN LED THE C-H-P ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE INTO LOS GATOS. ITALIA DROVE AT SPEEDS UP TO 90-MILES-PER HOUR TO EVADE CAPTURE. SHE PASSED MOTORISTS ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY 17, BUT EVENTUALLY A PURSUING OFFICER CAPTURED ITALIA AND TOOK HER INTO CUSTODY. DUE TO HER ALTERED MENTAL STATE, SHE WAS ADMITTED TO VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER FOR A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION. THE CHP REPORTS THEIR INTENTION TO FILE CHARGES OF RECKLESS EVADING, RESISTING ARREST, AND HIT AND RUN IN THIS CASE.

AREA RESIDENTS HAVE A CHANCE TO VOLUNTEER IN A PROGRAM THAT WILL BRING 2 MILLION DOLLARS TO MONTEREY COUNTY HOMELESS SERVICES. AT LEAST 50 MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO CONDUCT A SRUVEY REQUIRED BY H.U.D. BEFORE FUNDING MORE PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY. THOSE INTERESTED MUST ACT NOW, SINCE THE 3 INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSES WILL TAKE PLACE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER IN CONDUCTING A CENSUS FOR MONTEREY COUNTY, CALL MODUPE AT (831) 883-3080.