THE NEW YEAR WILL BRING RAISES TO SOME MONTEREY COUNTY EXECUTIVES. A NEW (SIX-TIER SALARY INCREASE SYSTEM) WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR FOR 50 DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ASSISTANTS. THE MOVE WAS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER BY THE MONTEREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THE RAISES WERE IMPLEMENTED TO KEEP EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT PAY AHEAD OF RANK-AND-FILE EMPLOYEES.

A MAN WHO WENT MISSING WHILE BOATING ON NEW YEAR?S EVE IS PRESUMED DEAD. FRIENDS OF 42 YEAR OLD BOB HINES OF MARINA CONTACTED THE COAST GUARD LATE FRIDAY NIGHT, WHEN HE HAD NOT RETURNED AS EXPECTED, EARLIER IN THE DAY. IT IS SPECULATED HINES MAY HAVE BEEN SETTING CRAB TRAPS BY HIMSELF WHEN HE WENT MISSING. THE COAST GUARD LOCATED HIS BOAT NEAR MOSS LANDING. THE SEARCH DID NOT LOCATE HINES AND WAS SUSPENDED SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

MONTEREY AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES GREETED THE NEW YEAR WITH SEVERAL BABIES BORN AT AREA HOSPITALS. THE FIRST BABY BORN IN THE COUNTY WAS BORN 10 SECONDS AFTER MIDNIGHT AT NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER. THE FAMILY DECLINED TO DISCUSS THE BIRTH WITH MEDIA. 3 OTHER CHILDREN WERE BORN IN MONTEREY COUNTY ON NEW YEAR?S DAY. A WATSONVILLE COUPLE?S SON EMILIO WAS THE FIRST BABY TO GREET THE NEW YEAR IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. EMILIO WAS BORN TO JOSE AND MAYRA PIMENTEL AT 9:45 A.M AT WATSONVILLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. THE COUNTY?S 2 OTHER HOSPITAL ALSO WELCOMED NEW YEAR?S BABIES LATER IN THE DAY.

A SAN MATEO MUSHROOM FARM WILL CLOSE THIS MONTH, LEAVING 230 LOCAL EMPLOYEES OUT OF WORK. MONEY?S MUSHROOMS IN PESCADERO WILL BE CLOSING AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES AND OWNERSHIP CHANGES. EMPLOYEES WILL BE GIVEN A 3 WEEK SEVERANCE PACKAGE. SOME EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY FOR 30 YEARS, AND MANY WERE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RESIDENTS.