PAJARO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS HAD HOPED TO OPEN THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL TO STUDENTS IN JANUARY, BUT IT NOW LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WILL BE NEXT FALL INSTEAD. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE SLOWED DOWN THE PROJECT, SUCH AS THE WORK THAT HAD TO BE DONE AFTER MOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN THE NEW BUILDINGS. WITH THE LATEST PROBLEM, (THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BRIDGE OVER STRUVE SLOUGH), OFFICIALS SAY THEY JUST CAN?T SEE HAVING EVERYTHING DONE IN TIME.

SANTA CRUZ CITY WORKERS VOTED TO ACCEPT A NEW CONTRACT THAT INCLUDES A 1 PERCENT PAY RAISE, AND LOWERED HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS. THE VOTES WERE TALLIED YESTERDAY AT LOCAL 415?S HEADQUARTERS OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION. THE NEW CONTRACT COVERS ABOUT 500 EMPLOYEES. IT DOES NOT COVER EMPLOYEES OF THE SANTA CRUZ POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

A SALINAS WOMAN DIED ON HIGHWAY 101, NEAR SOLEDAD, LAST NIGHT. THE 20 YEAR-OLD WAS DRIVING NORTH, WHEN HER VEHICLE HIT THE GUARDRAIL AND CAME TO A STOP. SHE GOT OUT OF HER CAR, AND WAS HIT BY A PASSING VAN. ALTHOUGH THAT DRIVER TRIED TO STOP AND HELP, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN ALMOST THE SAME PLACE AS THE RECENT DOUBLE FATALITY, IN WHICH A 10 YEAR-OLD GIRL (AND HER GRANDMOTHER) WERE KILLED.

THE TOYS FOR TOTS WAREHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE WAS FLOODED DAMAGING HUNDREDS OF DONATED TOYS. THE FACILITY WAS FILLED WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER, CAUSED BY A CLOGGED DRAIN. NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE WATSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP TO REPLACE THE TOYS THEY WOULD LIKE TO GIVE NEEDY CHILDREN. DONATIONS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT ANY WATSONVILLE FIRE STATION.