News

Morgan Hill police are investigating offensive graffiti and other vandalism that appeared on the front walls of Paradise Valley Elementary School and neighboring properties sometime before the morning of Jan. 23, according to authorities.About 6:30 a.m., a custodian at the school noticed spray-painted tags on the school that included a swastika, the letters “KKK,” the name of the popular band “Metallica” and other “inappropriate signs, symbols and nondescript” drawings, according to Morgan Hill Police Sgt. Ray Ramos. The custodian promptly called police.The tagging at the school at 1400 La Crosse Drive was also found on concrete and doors outside the school, Ramos said.The resulting investigation also found similar tagging on the garage door of a nearby home. Two vehicles were also vandalized—one with a smashed windshield and another with more spray-painted graffiti, Ramos added.While some of the images depicted in the graffiti refer to intolerant or racist themes, police do not think the vandalism rises to the level of a hate crime due to the presence of other symbols or tags that do not necessarily support intolerance.Some of the tags included obscene drawings, rap lyrics and references to marijuana, authorities said.“We believe it was a group of juvenile adolescents who randomly targeted the school and adjacent house” and vehicles, Ramos said.The garage door that was vandalized was located at a private residence on La Escuela Court, police said.“Morgan Hill is an all-inclusive community that celebrates diversity, and our top priorities as a city and a school district are to support youth and keep our youth safe,” Ramos added.No suspects have been arrested or identified, and the investigation is ongoing, Ramos added. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video captured outside the school.Police do not yet know the estimated cost of the damages.School authorities were relieved that the school custodian noticed the vandalism and offensive tagging early enough so that staff could cover it up before parents and students arrived for school Friday morning, according to Morgan Hill Unified School District Human Resources Director Fawn Myers.She added that school officials will continue to work with police during the investigation so the community can “keep our neighborhood safe and keep our public spaces clean.”“I know the Paradise community is a close community, and it’s disheartening when a public space is vandalized, because all of us feel vulnerable,” Myers said.

Thomas J. Bundros, who served three terms as a Gilroy schools trustee and earned the love and respect of colleagues and constituents for his dedication to his family and schools, died Wednesday after a years-long battle with cancer. He was 67.

More than a week has passed since Diana Armbruster discovered her family's beloved 17-year-old Arabian mare missing from their south Gilroy home.

Commercial burglarySomeone broke into a Conex storage box and stole a generator valued at $600 between Oct. 10, 2014 Jan. 9 on the 3200 block of Pacheco Pass at Canada Road in Gilroy.Identity theftSomeone fraudulently opened a New York Company credit card account and charged $454.30 between midnight Oct. 22, 2014 and 6:29 p.m. Jan. 8 on the zero block of San Martin Avenue in San Martin.BurglarySomeone entered a property on the 13000 block of Columbet Avenue in San Martin between 11:59 p.m. Jan. 4 and 9:30 a.m. Jan. 6 and stole an antique grinding wheel.DrugsA 24-year-old man was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of heroin at 1:16 p.m. Jan. 12 on Monterey Road at Old Gilroy Street in Gilroy. The suspect was found to be in possession of a marijuana pipe, heroin, heroin needles, a spoon, shoe laces and a lighter.A 35-year-old woman was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance at 8:55 a.m. Jan. 12 on Alexander Street at Tenth Street in Gilroy.A 42-year-old man was charged with possession of a controlled substance at 6:46 p.m. Jan. 11 on Dunlap Avenue at Furlong Avenue in Gilroy. The suspect was on active probation and, during a probation search, officers found methamphetamine, cocaine and a glass pipe.A 37-year-old woman was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance at 4:09 p.m. Jan. 10 on Hanna Street at Fifth Street in Gilroy.An 18-year-old man was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia at 10 a.m. Jan. 10 on Sixth Street at Rogers Lane in Gilroy.An 18-year-old man was charged with possession of a switch blade and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana at 2:19 a.m. Jan. 9 on Monterey Highway at First Street in Gilroy.—All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records. 

Nestled in the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range is one of Morgan Hill’s best-kept secrets: Morgan’s Cove. What started on a whim nearly 15 years ago has blossomed into a destination for anyone with an inner marauder just waiting to capture the booty.

Cordero Gonzales: Cordero Gonzales, of Gilroy, was named to Eastern New Mexico University’s dean’s list for the fall 2014 semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours with a GPA between 3.25 and 4.00.

Is it true that a tree in the roundabout by Las Animas School cost the City of Gilroy $100,000 as we have heard recently? Thank you.

Library a true community resource

The Gilroy man killed Jan. 9 when a Union Pacific vehicle slammed into his pickup truck has been identified as Donald Williams, 54, the Santa Clara County Coroner-Medical Examiner confirmed.