News

Champaign, Illinois—It’s been quite a year for Jesse Delgado.

Throughout the summer, the California Department of Transportation will conduct significant construction improvements on U.S. 101 on-ramps in South County in order to prepare them for a real-time metering system. The work is expected to begin by the end of June, according to a press release from CalTrans. Work will proceed on 17 freeway exit facilities from the San Benito County line to the U.S. 101 interchange with state route 85. Construction consists of the installation of metering elements, ramp widening, the addition of 22 closed circuit television cameras, 49 maintenance vehicle pullouts, 12 police pullouts and four traffic monitoring stations, according to CalTrans staff. Construction will occur in both day and night hours and some weekends, the press release said. Intermittent ramp closures will occur during the evenings, but some daytime ramp closures are possible. Electronic highway message signs will be posted to help motorists traveling through the area. Noise from the construction will be “unavoidable,” the press release said. More details on specific lane and ramp closures will be posted on the CalTrans website, when they are scheduled, at www.dot.ca.gov.The ramp metering/widening project will “enhance traffic flow on the freeway, decrease travel time and improve mobility through the corridor during peak hours,” the press release said. “The electronic traffic systems will allow real-time monitoring of highway conditions to provide better response times for law enforcement, fire and medical emergency.”The project is expected to be completed in fall 2015, with the metering system to be turned on and fully functional by 2016, CalTrans staff said. South County on-ramps to U.S. 101, both northbound and southbound, to be affected by the construction activity are located at the following exits: — Cochrane Road, Morgan Hill— Dunne Avenue, Morgan Hill— Tennant Avenue, Morgan Hill— San Martin Avenue, San Martin— Truck scales on-ramp, San Martin— Masten Avenue, San Martin— Leavesley Road, Gilroy— Tenth Street, Gilroy— Monterey Road, Gilroy.

Police are still looking for two of the three suspects who allegedly shot at two men, injuring one, while driving west on Spring Avenue in Morgan Hill the night of June 20. Authorities think the shooting, which followed a verbal argument between two groups of men, was gang-related. The suspects “should be considered armed and dangerous,” according to a June 24 press release from MHPD.  Police arrested Deja Maria Ayala, 21 of Gilroy, the night of June 24, according to Morgan Hill Police Sgt. Carson Thomas. Ayala is accused of driving the gray four-door sedan from which the suspects shot the victims. Morgan Hill police responded to the area of Spring Avenue and Monterey Road about 11:14 p.m.  June 20 to investigate a report of shots fired, according to the press release.As officers arrived they found two victims, including a 25-year-old Gilroy man who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso and arm, police said. The second victim, a 29-year-old Morgan Hill man, was not injured. Officers provided the Gilroy man with first aid until fire and paramedics arrived, according to authorities. The man was later transported to a local trauma center for emergency surgery and continued care. He remains in “serious but stable” condition and is expected to survive. During the investigation officers learned an argument began between the victims and another group of males just behind Mr. Hong’s Chinese restaurant, 16745 Monterey Road, police said. The two victims attempted to walk away from the altercation, but the two male suspects continued to taunt and yell at them. As the victims were walking westbound on Spring Avenue, the two male suspects entered a gray four-door sedan which was driven by Ayala, police said. The young woman drove the vehicle westbound on Spring Avenue, and stopped abruptly near the victims. At that point multiple gunshots were seen and heard coming from inside the vehicle, police said. All three suspects fled the scene in the vehicle which was last seen in the area of Spring and Del Monte avenues, according to the press release. The suspects were later identified as Francisco Diaz, 22, Nicolas Young, 21, and Ayala, police said. All three suspects are from Gilroy. Police identified the suspects through previous “police contacts in Gilroy and Morgan Hill” and video surveillance of the area where the June 20 shooting occurred, according Thomas. The last shooting reported by authorities in the Morgan Hill area was in October 2012, when two men who knew each other had a verbal dispute at a home on Peebles Avenue that ended with the suspect, Mario Calderon, 33, shooting the victim in the arm. The last gang-related drive-by shooting reported by Morgan Hill police occurred Nov. 4, 2011, when five suspects allegedly shot and killed 14-year-old Tara Romero and injured three of her teen friends outside the Village Avante Apartments complex at the intersection of Cosmo and Del Monte avenues. Diaz and Young are still on the run and should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. Anyone with information about this incident can contact Morgan Hill police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

The Hill Bar and Grill (formerly Champ’s) celebrated its grand opening April 3. The Hill was opened by Dustin Evanger (cutting the ribbon), staff, friends and ambassadors and friends of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce. We welcome the Hill as a great place for music, food and drinks, with live and DJ music on weekends. Stop by and check out the newest restaurant in town at 17330 Monterey St. in Morgan Hill. For information on getting your business a ribbon cutting, please call the Chamber of Commerce at (408) 779-9444.

Christopher High School’s top administrative post will be filled by a promotion from within, one of three changes in leadership starting next school year pairing in-house experience with 21st century learning savoir.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are banned in unincorporated Santa Clara County until officials can more carefully weigh the impact of a permanent prohibition on “compassionate use” for illnesses such as AIDS and cancer patients against the adverse effects of marijuana access to adults and children, county staff said.

When I was in high school, there was a stereotype that you couldn’t be smart and athletic. It wasn’t exclusive to my school. It’s been the way Hollywood has portrayed athletes for years—cue the “dumb jock.” 

GILROY—The Bash Brothers maintained a one game lead in the Men’s Friday E Softball League pennant chase with a 12-8 victory over the Heathens at Las Animas Veterans Park.