A MAP HAS BEEN MADE OF NEARLY 20 SCOTTS VALLEY HOMES, THAT HAVE BEEN DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE 13TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHT CRUISE AND POKER RUN IS SLATED TO BE HELD THIS COMING WEEKEND. THE EVENT IS A FUNDRAISER FOR VALLEY CHURCHES UNITED MISSIONS. REGISTRATION IS SLATED TO BEGIN AT 4:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (831) 438 - 3251.

A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOLEN LATE LAST NIGHT IN WATSONVILLE, WAS RETURNED TO ITS OWNER EARLY THIS MORNING; AND THE PERSON WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE IT IS BEHIND BARS. SANTA CRUZ RESIDENT 25 YEAR-OLD DAVID MATTHEW FLORES WAS CAUGHT, AFTER HE CRASHED THE VEHICLE IN THE 300 BLOCK OF EAST BEACH STREET SHORTLY AFTER 3 A.M. THIS MORNING. FLOREZ WAS BOOKED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL.

FIREFIGHTER?S RESPONDED TO SEVERAL CHIMNEY FIRES OVER THE WEEKEND, AND IN ONE CASE THE FIRE CAUSED ABOUT 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THEY SAY THAT?S NOT UNUSUAL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, AS PEOPLE LIGHT FIRES IN THEIR FIREPLACES (WITHOUT CLEANING OUT LAST YEAR?S RESIDUE FIRST).
FIREFIGHTERS RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE GET THEIR CHIMNEY?S CLEANED, AND INSPECTED, EVERY YEAR.

THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TRAFFIC UNIT WILL JOIN FORCES WITH THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL TO INITIATE OPERATION SAFE SCHOOLS SINCE THE LOSS OF THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO TRY TO PROVIDE A PRESENCE AT LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ENSURE SAFETY DURING SCHOOL HOURS. THE OPERATION WILL BEGIN WEDNESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. TRAFFIC OFFICERS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SALINAS AND WILL TAKE A "ZERO TOLERENCE" FOR ANY CONDUCT THAT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN ISSUING CITATIONS TO OFFENDERS. THE SCHOOLS TO BE TARGETED WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.