POLICE ARE ON THE HUNT FOR A MAN THAT ROBBED SCOTTS VALLEY MARKET AT GUNPOINT ON THURSDAY NIGHT.   JUST BEFORE 9:30 P-M THE SUSPECT ENTERED THE MARKET AND PURCHASED TWO ITEMS, BEFORE PULLING A HANDGUN AND DEMANDING THAT THE REGISTER BE EMPTIED.   THE CLERK WAS THEN ORDERED TO THE GROUND, AND THE SUSPECT FLED IN AN UNKNOWN DIRECTION ON FOOT.   THE MAN IS DESCRIBED AS HISPANIC, 30 TO 36 YEARS OLD AND 5’10 TO 6’0 TALL.   HE HAD A BAND-AID ON HIS LEFT CHEEK AND A TATTOO ON HIS NECK.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL THE SCOTTS VALLEY POLICE.

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (OR RTC) released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (OR EIR) on the proposed Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network Draft Master Plan at their meeting today.     THE DRAFT MASTER PLAN DEFINES A CONTINUOUS MULTI-USE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAIL NETWORK, DESIGN STANDARDS AND PRIORITIES AS WELL 50 MILES OF BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS.       The Master Plan corridor stretches the entire length of Santa Cruz County from the San Mateo County line north of Davenport past the Pajaro River in Watsonville.

AN EMPTY LUNCHBOX CAUSED A WALMART IN GILROY TO BE EVACUATED THURSDAY AFTERNOON.    THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BOMB SQUAD RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE AT THE WALMART AT 7150 CAMINO ARROYO NEAR MCDONALDS.   TECHNICIANS ON THE SCENE X-RAYED THE BOX AND DETERMINED IT WAS A FALSE ALARM.

IN A MEETING THURSDAY IN WATSONVILLE THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO REJECT TWO BIDS TO REHABILITATE BRIDGES ALONG THE 31-MILE BRANCH RAIL LINE.   DUE TO THE BIDS BEING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE ESTIMATED 4.8 MILLION DOLLAR TOTAL, INSTEAD THEY WILL NOW SEEK A NEW ROUND OF BIDDING.  THE NEW LA SELVA BRIDGE WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR FACTORS BEHIND THE HIGH BIDS, WITH ONE COMING IN AT 6.8 MILLION AND ANOTHER AT 9.4 MILLION.