A FIGHT OVER A SANTA CRUZ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ENDED UP WITH A 13 YEAR-OLD GIRL IN CRITICAL CONDITION, AND 2 MORE TEENS ARRESTED AND LODGED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JUVENILE HALL. THE GIRLS (WHO DO NOT ATTEND SANTA CRUZ HIGH SCHOOL) WERE REPORTEDLY FIGHTING OVER A BOY, WHEN THE STABBING OCCURRED. THE GIRLS THAT ARE NOW IN JUVENILE HALL ARE 13 AND 14 YEARS-OLD.

THE MAJORITY OF U.S. STRAWBERRY GROWERS ARE IN OUR AREA, AND THEY ARE AMONG THE GROWERS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO USE METHYL BROMIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR . AMERICAN TOMATO AND STRAWBERRY FARMERS WERE TOLD THEY MUST STOP THE USE OF THE PESTICIDE BY 2005, BUT BECAUSE NO USABLE ALTERNATIVE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, IT HAS QUALIFIED FOR A "CRITICAL USE" EXEMPTION, UNTIL 2006. 13 OTHER COUNTRIES ALSO APPEALED TO INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATORS FOR CRITICAL-USE EXEMPTIONS TO THE METHYL BROMIDE GUIDELINES WHICH WERE ADAPTED IN THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL TREATY OF 1987. IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS SPENT 150 MILLION DOLLARS ON RESEARCH INTO METHYL BROMIDE SUBSTITUTES.

EACH YEAR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIR ORGANIZERS ASK THE PUBLIC FOR THEME IDEAS. THE THEME IS USED EACH YEAR, TO BUILD THE COUNTY EVENT AROUND. IDEAS ARE WELCOMED UNTIL DECEMBER 10TH , AFTER WHICH TIME THE NEW THEME WILL BE CHOSEN. CONTRIBUTORS ARE ASKED TO DROP OFF THEIR THEME SUGGESTIONS AT THE FAIR OFFICE, AT 2601 EAST LAKE AVENUE, OR CALL 724-5671 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE PURCHASING SOME NEW EQUIPMENT. CHIEF OF POLICE DAN ORTEGA SAID THEY RECEIVED 2 FEDERAL GRANTS TOTALING $475,000, WHICH WILL BE USED TO PARTIALLY FUND A COUNTY WIDE BALLISTIC PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT WILL USE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR AN INTEGRATED BALLISTIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS HIRE A SYSTEM TECHNICIAN. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO ADD NEW COMPARISON MICROSCOPES, AND HIRE A FIREARMS EXAMINER. THE NEW PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT IS EXPECTED TO HELP THE CITY IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST GANG VIOLENCE.