Local News
A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN THE CITY OF MONTEREYREVEALS VOTERS SUPPORT A PROPOSED SALES TAX INCREASE. CITY OFFICIALS HOPE TO ADD A MEASURE TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT THAT WOULD INCREASE THE SALES TAX A HALF OR FULL CENT. THE INCREASE WOULD GENERATE AN EXTRA 7-MILLION-DOLLARS FOR THE CITY AND HELP FUND IMPROVEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
A WATSONVILLE WOMAN HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED AFTER A HIT-AND-RUN. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON WEST RODRIGUEZ STREET AND RIVERSIDE DRIVE AT AROUND 8:40 P-M LAST (THURS) NIGHT. OFFICIALS SAY THE 55-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS WALKING IN THE CROSSWALK WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE. THE VICTIM WAS TRANSPORTED TO A BAY AREA HOSPITAL WITH HEAD INJURIES. POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THE DRIVER WHO HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A HISPANIC ADULT MALE DRIVING A DARK-COLORED JEEP CHEROKEE. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT WATSONVILLE POLICE.
A DIVER WAS RESCUED NEAR MONTEREY EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT AROUND 10:40 A-M WEDNESDAY MORNING. SOURCES SAY A RESCUE PERSONNEL TRAINING EXERCISE WAS UNDER WAY AT POINT LOBOS, WHEN A STATE LIFE GUARD OBSERVED A DIVER IN DISTRESS AT MONASTERY BEACH. MEMBERS OF THE COAST GUARD, CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS, AND THE CARMEL HIGHLANDS FIRE DISTRICT PULLED THE DIVER AND A PARTNER FROM THE WATERS. THE DIVER WAS TREATED ON THE BEACH, AND TRANSPORTED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL.
AN AUTO THEFT INVESTIGATION, LED TO THE ARREST OF 3 CASTROVILLE RESIDENTS, EARLIER THIS WEEK. OFFICERS FOLLOWING UP LEADS AT A DEL MONTE FARMS ROAD HOME WHERE SEVERAL STOLE CARS WERE RECOVERED RECENTLY, UNCOVERED ILLEGAL DRUGS. SOURCES SAY THAT A SEARCH OF THE HOME TURNED UP HEROIN, METHAMPHETAMINE, AND MORPHINE. A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION WAS ALSO SEIZED. 52 YEAR OLD MICHAEL PIPITONE, 46 YEAR OLD DEBORAH BENNETT, AND 32 YEAR OLD DEBORAH COOKE WERE ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL ON DRUGS AND WEAPONS CHARGES.
AN UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR SET TO BE SENTENCED IN A SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COURTROOM TODAY (FRI) IS IN JAIL IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. ALEX MITCHELL ALSO KNOWN AS AL JOHNSON HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CHARGES FOR BILKING RESIDENTS OUT OF OVER 17-THOUSAND DOLLARS. MITCHELL WAS ARRESTED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AFTER A WARRANT WAS ISSUED WHEN HE FAILED TO SHOW UP FOR SENTENCING FOR CONVICTIONS IN THAT COUNTY. MITCHELL IS TO BE EXTRADITED TO SANTA CRUZ FOR SENTENCING AT A LATER DATE.
