A PACIFIC GROVE MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DECEMBER 10TH DEATH OF A PEDESTRIAN. 35 YEAR-OLD AARON ROBERT ERWIN STRUCK 63 YEAR-OLD GORDON EDWARD HURD IN THE 11 HUNDRED BLOCK OF FOREST AVENUE. HURD DIED 11 DAYS LATER FROM THE INJURIES HE SUSTAINED IN THAT ACCIDENT. ERWIN IS SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED IN MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT FEBRUARY 10TH.

RESIDENTS ALONG LOMA PRIETA DRIVE HAVE FORMED A NEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, TO ASSIST EMERGENCY RESPONDERS (IN CASE OF A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE, FIRE OR OTHER DISASTER). TEAM LEADER CHUCK ANDERSON SAID ANYONE LIVING ON LOMA PRIETA IS INVITED TO JOIN THE TEAM, WHICH IS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE LOMA PRIETA DRIVE ROAD ASSOCIATION. THE CERT TEAM WILL BE TRAINED BY APTOS/LA SELVA FIREFIGHTERS. INITIAL TRAINING FOR THE TEAM INVOLVES WEEKLY EVENING SESSIONS, FROM FEBRUARY 15TH TO MARCH 24TH . TO JOIN, CONTACT CHUCK ANDERSON AT (831) 689-9050, OR CAPTAIN MIKE CONRAD AT THE APTOS/LA SELVA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.

A STUDENT (AT A PRIVATE SCOTTS VALLEY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE) HAS PLEADED ?NO CONTEST? TO HITTING A FEMALE FRIEND IN THE HEAD WITH A CANE, AND CHOKING HER. 25 YEAR-OLD JOSHUA MARK STEWART NOW FACES UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL UNDER THE TERMS OF HIS PLEA BARGAIN. STEWART WAS INITIALLY CHARGED WITH 2 COUNTS OF ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM 8 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE.

A 25 YEAR-OLD WATSONVILLE MOTHER WAS KILLED IN YESTERDAY MORNING?S 3 A.M. ACCIDENT, THAT CLOSED HIGHWAY 1 IN THE MOSS LANDING AREA. RITA MARIE VALENZUELA REPORTEDLY LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE, WHILE HEADED NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 1. OFFICERS HAD BEEN TRYING TO STOP THE SPEEDING WOMAN SINCE THEY SPOTTED HER DRIVING MORE THAN 90 MILES PER HOUR ON HIGHWAY 183 IN CASTROVILLE. SHE LED THEM ON TO NORTHBOUND 1, BUT SHE APPARENTLY MISCALCULATED A CURVE IN THE MOSS LANDING AREA, AND WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHERE SHE HIT A BIG-RIG AT HIGH SPEED. OFFICERS REPORTED SHE DIED INSTANTLY.

SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER MOTHER AND SISTER, AND WELL AS HER 5 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER (WHO ATTENDS GREEN VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL). VISITATION FOR VALENZUELA WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY AT MEHL?S COLONIAL CHAPEL ON EAST LAKE AVENUE IN WATSONVILLE, AND A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL IS SCHEDULED FOR 11 A.M. MONDAY AT OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIAN VALLEY CHURCH.