Politics

Carmen Medrano began working for the City of Gilroy’s finance department in 1972 as a part-time office hand while a freshman at Gilroy High School, as a temporary means for extra cash.

Early returns from the four counties in the sprawling 30th Assembly district left no doubt about the front-runner, San Benito County Supervisor Robert Rivas. He will likely face first-time Republican candidate Neil Kitchens in a November runoff, as fellow Democrat and Gilroy City Councilman...

The Gavilan Joint Community College District Board of Trustees is considering placing a $248 million bond measure on the November 2018 ballot. A recent survey found a sample of district residents, from Hollister to south San Jose, were in support of the measure, which would...

PRESS RELEASE The City of Gilroy has selected Scot Smithee as its next Chief of Police. The appointment of Scot is scheduled to be considered at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of June 19. After a nationwide search, Scot Smithee was selected as the top...

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Gilroy

After working in Gilroy for more than seven years, Gilroy Fire Department Chief Dale Foster announced his retirement Thursday.   This time, Foster is determined to "retire for real," referring to his retirement from San Jose Fire Department in 2003 before his move to Gilroy.    "I’ll miss being involved in so many things relating to public safety, and I'll miss the people I’ve worked with and dealt with in this job," Foster said.    Foster, a Morgan Hill resident, said he loves the Gilroy community and plans to stay involved with all things Gilroy and Morgan Hill.    As for the fire department, Foster believes they'll be just fine without him.   "I think the fire department is on a good track right now, and I think the future is good for the the department and the City," he said.    In his retirement, Foster plans to travel, enjoy time with his wife and "basically do whatever I want."   Foster's last day with the department is August 17.    Foster graduated from Oregon State University, where he worked part-time at a fire station in Oregon while going to school. Foster said in 2005 that the experience sparked a love for firefighting that has lasted more than 30 years.   He joined San Jose Fire Department in 1972 after fulfilling his U.S. Navy reserve commitment and stayed there 32 years.   He rose through the ranks to engineer, then captain then in 1996 to battalion chief in, then to deputy chief, and finally, in 2000 to assistant chief.

The Nov. 6 election is just a month away, and Gilroy residents will be voting for four City Council members. Three council members will be elected to a four-year seat, and one will be elected to a two-year seat. Campaign signs are popping up on...

GILROY

Roger and Kathy Santos live on a property on the east side of Gilroy that has been in the family since 1930. Now there is a distinct possibility that their property will be on a collision course with the incoming high-speed rail line.