AN AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED MONDAY, AND THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NOW INVESTIGATING THE DEATH AS A MURDER. ANDRES CONTRERAS RAMIREZ DIED OF A GUNSHOT WOUND TO HIS HEAD AT STANFORD HOSPITAL SATURDAY NIGHT . HE RECEIVED THE INJURY ON DECEMBER 16TH AT ABOUT 4:25 P.M. IT IS SUSPECTED HE WAS SHOT BY GANG MEMBERS IN A BURGUNDY COLORED SEDAN, ON BOLING ROAD. ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE WITNESSED THIS SHOOTING, OR CAN PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE CASE IS ASKED TO PLEASE CALL THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR THEIR ANONYMOUS TIP LINE AT 888-833-4847.

THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THAT A BURGLARY OCCURRED AT SOUTH COUNTY PACKING THIS MORNING . THE THIEVES PRIED OPEN A TIN WALL TO GET INTO THE BUILDING. THE CRIME OCCURRED OVERNIGHT, WHEN VARIOUS BIG RIG TRUCK PARTS WERE STOLEN. THE VALUE OF THE MISSING PARTS HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD SERVICES ANNOUNCES THAT THE MONTHLY SANTA CRUZ COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVES ARE SEEING INCREASING DONATIONS. THEY SHOW ALMOST 200 PINTS MORE THIS YEAR THAN LAST, WHICH REPRESENTS A 24 PERCENT INCREASE IN ONE YEAR. GIVING BLOOD IS EASY, SAFE AND TAKES APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR. TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO DONATE, CALL 1-800-GIVE-BLOOD, OR LOG ON TO
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MOST HEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ARE AT LEAST 17 YEARS OLD AND WEIGH AT LEAST 110 POUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE TO DONATE BLOOD EVERY 56 DAYS. DONORS MUST BRING APPROPRIATE IDENTIFICATION SUCH AS A DRIVER?S LICENSE, OR AN AMERICAN RED CROSS DONOR CARD. DONORS SHOULD EAT A LIGHT MEAL OR SNACK AND DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS BEFORE DONATING BLOOD

A CAPITOLA 16-YEAR-OLD IS RANKED AT THE TOP OF HIS DIVISION IN THE INTERSCHOLASTIC SURF FEDERATION SCHOOL LEAGUE. AUSTIN SMITH-FORD ALSO MADE THE COVER OF THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF SURFING MAGAZINE, ONE OF THE SPORT'S MAJOR PUBLICATIONS. INSIDE THERE IS AN INTERVIEW ALONG WITH MORE PICTURES OF THE SURFER. SMITH-FORD IS THE YOUNGEST SURFER OUT OF SANTA CRUZ TO ATTAIN SUCH RECOGNITION. HE IS A SOQUEL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHERE HE GETS ALMOST STRAIGHT A'S. HE HAS BEEN A SPONSORED SURFER SINCE HE WAS ABOUT 13. THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF SURFING MAGAZINE SHOULD BE IN STORES BY EARLY JANUARY.