A BADLY DECOMPOSED BODY THAT WAS FOUND TUESDAY AFTERNOON WAS THAT OF A 57 YEAR-OLD LATINO MAN. NO FOUL PLAY WAS SUSPECTED IN HIS DEATH. ALTHOUGH THEY FOUND SOME IDENTIFICATION WITH THE BODY, THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CORONER?S OFFICE SAID THEY MAY NEED TO USE D.N.A. SAMPLES TO POSITIVELY I.D. THE MAN.

SHERIFF KANALAKIS ANNOUNCED THE HIRING OF 3 NEW EMPLOYEES. 2 DEPUTIES AND 1 OFFICE ASSISTANT WILL BE SWORN IN ON MONDAY AT 9:00 A.M, AT THE SHERIFF'S ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. THE NEW DEPUTIES WILL BE JAMES HOGE, OF GILROY, AND JEFF KOZNEK, OF ATASCADERO, WHILE RITA CORTEZ, OF GONZALES IS THE NEW OFFICE ASSISTANT. ALSO (AT THAT TIME) THE SHERIFF WILL BE PRESENTING THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES PROMOTED IN DECEMBER. THE PROMOTIONS WILL INCLUDE UNDERSHERIFF, CHIEF DEPUTIES, CAPTAINS, COMMANDERS, AND SERGEANTS. THE PROMOTIONS TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 8TH. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CURRENTLY HAS 16 VACANT DEPUTY POSITIONS. THE NEXT TESTING DATES FOR MEN AND WOMEN INTERESTED IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER ARE JANUARY 28 AND 29TH.

THE DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT, BUT SECURITY AT NORTHRIDGE MALL IN SALINAS IS BEING BOOSTED. GUNFIRE ON TUESDAY IN THE MALL , INJURED 3 PEOPLE AND PROMPTED THE SECURITY INCREASE. THE VICTIMS IN THE SHOOTINGS RECEIVED NON LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. MALL OFFICIALS SAY THE GUNFIRE WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, BUT ARE BEEFING UP SECURITY AS A PRECAUTION. THE DIRECTOR OF MALL SECURITY REPORTS, THE INCREASE WILL INVOLVE THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE MALL OWNERS.

A LOCAL REGISTERED DIETITIAN RECENTLY RECEIVED SPECIAL TRAINING BY THE AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT WEIGHT MANAGEMENT. REGISTERED DIETITIAN JACQUELINE THOMPSON WORKS WITH THE PAJARO VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH TRUST IN THEIR DIABETES HEALTH CENTER. THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING INCLUDED BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY-BASED APPROACHES TO HELP PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY. TOMPSON IS 1 OF ABOUT 300 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE U.S. THAT HOLD THIS CERTIFICATE.