News

Breakfast—the most important meal of the day, according to experts and mothers. But what does breakfast mean for school-age children?

GILROY—City officials will allow advocates for Christmas Hill Park’s Red Barn to enter the boarded-up structure and work to prevent further weather-related damage, but not until nine city requirements are met.

GOTCHA! That’s what the hungry young California kingsnake was likely thinking as he struck at the field mouse sitting in a shiny tray. But it was a double-gotcha. Both critters became immobilized victims of that device of torture ... the glue trap. Despite the manufacturers’ assertions that the traps are a “humane” way to rid homes and yards of pests, the homeowner was horrified by the sight of the struggling 35-inch long snake and the truffle-sized mouse and brought them, still stuck in the glue, to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center.

Authorities on Wednesday located about 30 acres of corn concealing marijuana—along with buildings to process it—in the San Juan Bautista and San Martin areas.

The Gilroy City Council voted 5-1 and approved controversial water and sewer rate hikes for residents Monday, despite calls from more than a dozen opponents who suggested elected officials hold off on voting for at least a month to allow for more notification of residents by mail—especially those who speak Spanish.

Gilroy police are seeking three to four suspects who they say may have participated in an Aug. 16 drive-by shooting that left a Gilroy man wounded and put bullet holes in a nearby home and car.

Recreational boaters hoping to get on the local waterways one more time this summer got an unexpected and unwanted surprise this week as Anderson Lake County Park was officially closed to all vessels.“Due to the projected lowering water levels, Anderson Reservoir will be closed to all vessels effective Monday, August 17,” reads the announcement on the Santa Clara County Parks & Recreation Department website. That notice was posted Wednesday, Aug. 12.A ruptured water pipe near Casa de Fruta on Aug. 1 caused the shutdown of a pipeline from San Luis Reservoir, the county’s main water supply to its water treatment plants, according to Santa Clara Valley Water District spokesman Marty Grimes.“We’ve been using Anderson Reservoir to feed our treatment plans at a much earlier time than we thought we were going to,” Grimes said.County parks had hoped to keep the reservoir open for recreational boat use through Labor Day, but the water was dropping so fast and boats could not be launched based on the water level projections, Grimes added.If the water level reaches around 40,000 acre feet, then boats can’t be safely launched.Before rupturing, the pipe had been transporting water from San Luis Reservoir to the county’s three water treatment plants. When it was shut down earlier this month, the water district began using water from Anderson instead.Repairs to the busted pipe are expected to be complete by Sept 3, Grimes said.Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos is also closed due to low water level, according to the county parks site.

Two structures in west Gilroy were destroyed Monday after a guesthouse caught fire and eventually spread to the main house nearby. Firefighters were called to 7945 Whitehurst Road at 12:30 p.m. and when they arrived, the guesthouse was engulfed in flames, according to a Cal Fire spokesperson.

If you missed "Coffee with the Publishers" in Gilroy last week, you still have two more opportunities to weigh in with Jeff Mitchell, publisher of the Gilroy Dispatch, Morgan Hill Times and Hollister Free Lance, and Bobbi Jo Palmer, publisher of Out & About Magazine, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18 at GVA, 17400 Monterey St., Morgan Hill; and 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25 at Heavenly Bakery, 601 San Benito St., Hollister. Come out and let us know how we're doing!