5 PLASTIC BAGS, CONTAINING MARIJUANA STEMS AND GROWING EQUIPMENT, WERE REPORTEDLY FOUND ON CARPENTERIA ROAD IN AROMAS RECENTLY. THEY WERE FOUND BY A LOCAL HOME OWNER, WHO CALLED THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF?S DEPARTMENT. DEPUTIES COLLECTED THE BAGS (AND DESTROYED THE CONTENTS), BUT THE BAGS THEMSELVES WERE TAKEN TO A CRIME LAB, TO CHECK FOR FINGERPRINTS.

26 RABBITS WERE RESCUED, AFTER THEY WERE FOUND LIVING IN WHAT S.P.C.A. MEMBERS CALLED ?DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS? OUTSIDE A GONZALES HOME. THE RABBITS WERE FOUND IN AN 8-BY- 8 HUTCH. THEY HAD BEEN LIVING IN FECES AND URINE, THAT WAS A FOOT-AND-A HALF DEEP. THE OWNERS (WHO SAID THEY WERE RAISING THE RABBITS FOR FOOD) VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERED THE CREATURES TO THE S.P.C.A. OF MONTEREY COUNTY. THE RABBITS (THAT ARE MEDICALLY EVALUATED, AND FOUND TO BE HEALTHY) ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION SOON.

A LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP IS LOOKING AT THE HIRING PRACTICES OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY?S LARGEST EMPLOYER. THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE N.A.A.C.P. IS CONDUCTING A SURVEY TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT U.C.S.C?S HIRING, RETENTION AND PROMOTION OF BLACK EMPLOYEES. THE GROUP?S ACTION IS IN RESPONSE TO CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEE?S CONCERNS. U.C.S.C. EMPLOYEES INTERESTED IN RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY CAN CALL THE N.A.A.C.P. AT 429-2266 OR EMAIL This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

THE ROLLOVER OF A FORD BRONCO SENT 4 CHILDREN TO THE HOSPITAL LATE LAST WEEK. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A SHARP CURVE ON BRIDGE STREET NEAR EAST LAKE AVENUE IN WATSONVILLE. A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS AIRLIFTED TO STANFORD MEDICAL CENTER WITH AN INJURY TO HER RIGHT ARM. A 7-YEAR OLD BOY, 10-YEAR OLD BOY AND A 16-YEAR OLD GIRL WERE TAKEN TO WATSONVILLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. THE AMBULANCE COMPANY, AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE, REPORTED THAT NONE OF THE INJURIES WERE LIFE-THREATENING.