IN A HISTORY MAKING DAY SUNDAY FOR THE O'NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC(IN SANTA CRUZ), AUSTRALIA'S SAMANTHA CORNISH HAS WON THE 20 THOUSAND DOLLAR WORLD QUALIFYING SERIES FINALE, AND GUARANTEED HERSELF A SPOT ON THE 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR. FOLLOWING EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPTS BY ORGANIZERS (SUCH AS GOING MOBILE) THE SURFING COMPETITION WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE MEN'S EVENT DUE TO FLAT CONDITIONS AT LEGENDARY STEAMER LANE EARLIER IN THE WEEKEND. MOVING THE EVENT TO WADDELL CREEK (14 MILES NORTH OF SANTA CRUZ) PROVIDED 2 TO 3 FOOT WAVES, WITH OCCASIONAL 5 FOOT SETS FOR THE WOMEN. THE DECISION TO RUN THE WOMEN INSTEAD OF THE MEN, WAS MADE BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE MEN HAVE MANY EVENTS, WITH FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE AMONG THE WOMEN.

THE CAL-AM WATER COMPANY WILL HOLD A PUBLIC TOWNHALL MEETING TO DISCUSS WATER RATES AND CONSERVATION ISSUES IN CHUALAR TUESDAYTONIGHT. IT WILL BEGIN AT 6 P.M. AT THE CHUALAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA LOCATED AT 24285 LINCOLN STREET. SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE TODAY A MINIVAN CAUSED TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN THE GILROY AREA, AFTER HITTING A HIGHWAY MEDIAN. THE SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON HIGHWAY 101, WHEN A MAN LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE (WITH 2 CHILDREN INSIDE) NEAR HIGHWAY 25. AFTER HITTING THE MEDIAN THE VEHICLE CROSSED OVER AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE FLIPPING OVER. THE MAN AND BOTH CHILDREN WERE FLOWN TO SAN JOSE MEDICAL CENTER. THE HIGHWAY WAS CLOSED DOWN WHILE C.H.P. OFFICERS INVESTIGAED THE SCENE, AND REOPENED AROUND 9 A.M.

AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED AT 12:55 P.M. THIS AFTERNOON (MONDAY) AT A MAGNITUDE OF 3.9. IT OCCURRED 3 MILES SOUTH SOUTH WEST OF GILROY AT A HYPOCENTRAL DEPTH OF 4 MILES. A LITTLE LATER A 1:29P.M. A MICROEARTHQUAKE OF 1.8 FOLLOWED IN THE SAME AREA.