A MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE HAS REJECTED A LAWSUIT THAT REQUESTED AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT BE DONE BEFORE A SUBDIVISION IS BUILT IN PRUNEDALE. JUDGE ROBERT O? FARRELL RULED IN FAVOR OF A LOCAL DEVELOPER (AND THE COUNTY OF MONTEREY), SAYING NO E.I.R. WAS NEEDED FOR T HE PROJECT THAT WOULD BUILD 28 HOMES (ON THE 143 ACRES AT THE END OF PESANTE ROAD, THAT ABUTS CRAZY HORSE CANYON ROAD. THAT RULING SUPPORTED THE COUNTY?S MAY 2004 APPROVAL OF THE PRUNEDALE PROJECT. THIS WEEK?S RULING MEANS THAT DEVELOPER DON CHAPIN CAN NOW APPLY FOR BUILDING PERMITS.

2 MONTEREY COUNTY TEACHERS HAVE BEEN HONORED BY THEIR PEERS. THEIR COLLEAGUES CHOSE 3RD GRADE DEL REY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER JANE ALLEN, AND 4TH GRADE SANTA LUCIA SCHOOL TEACHER JOHN MUNSEE, TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR?S LIGHTHOUSE FOR LITERACY AWARDS. THE AWARD GOES TO THOSE WHO MAKE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE LITERACY IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE MONTEREY COUNTY READING ASSOCIATION WILL PRESENT THE AWARDS TO ALLEN AND MUNSEE ON FEBRUARY 17TH .

3 earthquakes took place this morning in the avenal/kettleman city area??.

A light earthquake occurred at 5:03 THIS MORNING. The magnitude 4.0 event occurred 5 miles WNW of Kettleman City, AT A HYPOCENTRAL DEPTH OF 6 miles.

A micro earthquake occurred 5 minutes later at 5:08. It was a 2.6 event occurring 5 miles NE of Avenal, California, at a hypo central depth of 5 miles.

The 3rd quake this morning occurred 5 miles northwest of kettleman City at 5:26 a.m. it was a magnitude 3.0 event and took place at a hypo central depth of 6 miles.

SALINAS POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED 3 PEOPLE LAST NIGHT, AFTER THE DRIVER LED THEM ON A SHORT VEHICLE CHASE. A LOADED PISTOL WAS FOUND IN THE VEHICLE. THE 19 YEAR-OLD DRIVER, AND 1 PASSENGER, ARE KNOWN NORTENO GANG MEMBERS. ALL 3 WERE ARRESTED ON A VARIETY OF WEAPONS AND NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS.