THE HOLLISTER FREE LANCE NEWSPAPER HAS RECEIVED 5 AWARDS, INCLUDING THE COVETED GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD. THE AWARDS ARE GIVEN BY THE CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION. THE FREE LANCE BEGAN LIFE AS THE HOLLISTER ENTERPRISE BACK IN 1873, JUST ONE YEAR AFTER THE CITY INCORPORATED (AND ONLY 4-MONTHS BEFORE RESIDENTS OF HOLLISTER AND SAN JUAN BAUTISTA BROKE AWAY FROM MONTEREY COUNTY, AND FORMED SAN BENITO COUNTY). THE PAPER HAS CHRONICLED THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF SAN BENITO COUNTY. ALONG WITH THE GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD, THE PAPER RECEIVED AWARDS IN 4 OTHER CATEGORIES: FRONT PAGE, EDITORIAL PAGE, EDITORIAL COMMENT AND SPORTS PHOTO.

A KENYA NATIVE WON THE BIG SUR INTERNATIONAL MARATHON FOR HIS 3RD TIME. JONATHAN NDAMBUKI CAME IN 1ST IN BOTH 2002 AND 2003 AS WELL AS THIS SUNDAY, DURING THE 20TH ANNUAL BIG SUR MARATHON. ALTHOUGH NDAMBUKI WAS THE FAVORITE TO WIN, HE WAS IN A NECK-AND-NECK DUEL UNTIL THE END. NDAMBUKI WHO NOW LIVES IN INCLINE VILLAGE, NEVADA, CAME CLOSER TO GIVING UP THE TOP SPOT THIS YEAR THAN EITHER OF HIS TWO PREVIOUS WINS.

THE TRIAL OF FORMER SANTA CRUZ RESIDENT MARCUS WESSON IS TAKING PLACE NOW IN FRESNO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT. THE 58-YEAR-OLD IS BEING TRIED ON CHARGES OF KILLING HIS 9 CHILDREN AND ALSO ON 14 COUNTS OF SEXUALLY ABUSING HIS DAUGHTERS AND NIECES. TESTIMONY HAS REVEALED HE WAS THE FATHER OF ALL THE SLAIN CHILDREN. THE MOTHERS OF SEVERAL CHILDREN WERE ALSO HIS DAUGHTERS AND NIECES. PROSECUTORS ARE SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY, WHILE WESSON HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES.

THE SOLEDAD CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PLAN FOR AN 18-HOLE GOLF COURSE, WHICH WOULD BE PART OF A FUTURE 900-ACRE PLUS HOUSING PROJECT. THE PROPOSAL WAS SUBMITTED BY PACIFIC GROVE DEVELOPER NADER AGHA'S HMBY LP COMPANY. THE GOLF COURSE WOULD BE PART OF THE SUBDIVISION, COMBINING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE WITH SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, TOWNHOMES, AND APARTMENTS.