2 MEMBERS WERE RE-ELECTED TO THE APTOS/LA SELVA FIRE DISTRICT . INCUMBENTS MARILYN RAMOS AND MICHAEL WEATHERFORD WILL JOIN DAVID BARBIN (WHO WON THE 3RD SEAT ON THE BOARD). THE APTOS/LA SELVA FIRE DISTRICT COVERS OVER 21 THOUSAND RESIDENTS LIVING IN 14 SQUARE MILES. THE BOARD HAS A $7 MILLION BUDGET TO USE BETWEEN 3 STATIONS, AND A 39-PERSON STAFF.

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS LIFTED THE QUARANTINE ON SPORT-HARVESTED SHELLFISH, INCLUDING MUSSELS, CLAMS, AND OYSTERS. COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PERSONNEL COLLECTED MUSSELS AT NATURAL BRIDGES BEACH AND CAPITOLA WHARF FOR TESTING. THOSE MUSSELS HAD NO DETECTABLE LEVELS OF THE PARALYTICAL SHELLIFISH TOXIN OR DOMOIC ACID, CAUSED BY RED TIDES THAT MAY OCCUR DURING THE QUARANTINE PERIOD. NORMALLY THE QUARANTINE IS IN EFFECT FROM MAY 1ST TO OCTOBER 31ST.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY BOB LEE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT DAMIEN SETH SMITH WAS CONVICTED OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATH OF DON PAUL KOVAKOVICH. THE JURY TRIAL LASTED 6 WEEKS. KOVAKOVICH WAS FOUND DEAD IN A SANTA CRUZ HOTEL ROOM, IN APRIL OF 2003. HE HAD BEEN BRUTALLY BEATEN AND STRANGLED . SMITH, WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON SEEN WITH KOVAKOVICH , WAS ARRESTED WHILE USING THE VICTIM'S CAR. EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL ESTABLISHED THAT THE 2 MEN SHARED DRUGS AND HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. THE JURY DELIBERATED FOR ALMOST 4 DAYS BEFORE REACHING THEIR VERDICT.

IN THE SCOTT PETERSON TRIAL, BOTH SIDES HAVE CONCLUDED THEIR CASE AND JURORS BEGAN DELIBERATING TODAY. PETERSON IS SUSPECTED OF MURDERING HIS PREGNANT WIFE LACI IN DECEMBER OF 2002. JURY SELECTION STARTED IN REDWOOD CITY BACK IN MARCH. IF THE JURY DECIDES ON A GUILTY VERDICT, THERE ARE 2 CHOICES THEY COULD MAKE. ONE IS 1ST-DEGREE MURDER, IN WHICH A DEATH SENTENCE IS POSSIBLE, OR LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. THE OTHER CHOICE IS 2ND-DEGREE MURDER, CARRYING 2 SENTENCES OF 15 YEARS TO LIFE.