A SAILBOAT ACCIDENT ON FRIDAY LED TO THE DEATH OF ONE WOMAN OFF THE COAST OF SAN SIMEON. THE SAIL BOAT WENT AGROUND THROWING THE WOMAN AND A COMPANION INTO THE WATER. THE U.S. COAST GUARD RESPONDED WHEN A DISTRESS CALL WAS PLACED BY SOMEONE ABOARD THE SAILBOAT. THE UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN WAS PULLED FROM THE SURF AND PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE WOMAN?S COMPANION, 40 YEAR OLD DONALD UPTON, WAS RESCUED AND TAKEN TO SIERRA VISTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED.

THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY FOR PACIFIC GROVE WILL BOTH BE LEAVING THEIR POSTS ON MARCH 31ST. CITY MANAGER ROSS HUBBARD WILL BE RETIRING AND CITY ATTORNEY DAVID FLEISHMAN WILL STEP DOWN FROM THE POSITION HE HAS HELD FOR A LITTLE OVER 4 YEARS. BOTH MEN HAVE SAID THEY WILL HELP THE CITY FIND REPLACEMENTS.

A CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP IN MONTEREY COUNTY HAS SPOKEN OUT IN SUPPORT OF A GRAND JURY?S RECOMMENDATIONS TO POLICE IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES. MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS COALITION OF MONTEREY COUNTY AGREE WITH A GRAND JURY THAT RECOMMENDED THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF?S OFFICE INCLUDE CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING. THE RECOMMENDATIONS, ISSUED IN A REPORT RELEASED LAST WEEK, ALSO SUGGESTED THE OFFICE HAVE AN ON-CALL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO DEAL WITH POLICE STANDOFFS.

JURORS FOUND A SANTA CRUZ MAN GUILTY OF SELLING METHAMPHETAMINE LAST WEEK. 34 YEAR OLD JAMIE CHAVEZ OF SANTA CRUZ WAS FOUND GUILTY OF POSSESSING DRUGS, AND CONSPIRACY AND DRUG SALES. CHAVEZ WAS ARRESTED AND ACCUSED OF POSSESSING ALMOST 5 POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINE IN JANURARY OF LAST YEAR. HE COULD BE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON UNDER CALIFORNIA?S ?THREE STRIKES? LAW. CHAVEZ?S SENTENCING DATE HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED.