News

The Gilroy Dispatch’s coverage of the Gilroy Garlic Festival mass shooting netted the newspaper a pair of first-place awards in the California News Publishers Association’s annual California Journalism Awards. The Dispatch, competing in the weekly newspaper circulation of 11,001-25,000 category, received first place in Breaking...

Per Mr. Miller's wishes, no services are planned. Donations to Heartland Hospice of Monterey or to a charity of the donors choice is preferred. Condolences may be sent to: www.grunnagle.com

Ernest Salas, 42, and Antionette Arriola, 36, both of Hollister,

Siskiyous and Allan Hancock both created a first half deficits too big for Gavilan to come back from in their tournament match-ups.

The Hollister woman who pleaded no contest to trying to slip sleep-aid medication to toddlers under her care at a Morgan Hill daycare facility was sentenced to six months in Santa Clara County Jail Monday, according to authorities. Deborah Gratz, 59 of Hollister, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Kenneth Shapero following a hearing at South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill. She was sentenced to six months in jail followed by four years of formal probation, with a list of conditions for her release during probation, according to Deputy District Attorney Sumerle Davis. In May, Gratz pleaded no contest to five counts of attempted child endangerment as part of a plea bargain with the D.A.’s office. The misdemeanor charges stem from Gratz’ attempt to put a sleep-aid drug known as Sominex into the sippy-cups of some children under her care at Kiddie Academy daycare in Morgan Hill, authorities said. Gratz had worked at the daycare business since 2007, and has worked in the childcare field for about 20 years. The attempted drugging occurred in early March, according to police. Another employee of Kiddie Academy saw Gratz place an unknown substance into the sippy cups of about 10 toddlers between the ages of 1 and 2. Staff at Kiddie Academy determined that Gratz had placed the over-the-counter sleep-aid medication in the children’s drinks, police said. The staff fired Gratz and reported the attempted drugging to Morgan Hill police. Officers investigated the incident, and arrested Gratz March 11 at her home in Hollister. None of the children were harmed by Gratz’ actions, police said. Police added that Gratz had a “spotless” record during her career as a daycare professional until the incident at Kiddie Academy was reported. Gratz remains out of custody, but she is required to report to South County Courthouse to begin serving her six-month sentence in jail Sept. 27, Davis said.

Efforts to bring an East Coast bio-energy company to Gilroy that

Cleanup crews remained at the scene of a 1,700-gasoline spill - resulting from an accident involving a tanker truck - on U.S. 101 in Morgan Hill Friday afternoon. The traffic accident happened about 1 a.m. Thursday, when the 8,500-gallon tanker collided with a speeding 350Z Nissan in southbound traffic between the Tennant Avenue and San Martin Avenue exits, according to authorities. The collision caused the truck to leave the roadway on the right shoulder, spilling its contents into the environment. The driver of the truck was transported to area hospital with a complaint of pain, authorities said. The accident prompted staff from Fish and Game, the Coast Guard, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Cal Trans and Santa Clara County Hazmat to respond, shutting down traffic for several hours, according to authorities. And the fuel spill caused authorities to issue a mandatory evacuation of about 15 to residents living in the area near the crash. Cal Trans cleanup crews remained at the scene Friday until about 3 p.m., slowing down southbound traffic due to the closure of the western lane, according to CHP Officer Lopez. Authorities will return to the scene Monday to “do a final check and cleanup,” Lopez said.