News

The yearlong saga surrounding a lawsuit brought by former Gilroy Fire Division Chief Edward Bozzo and current Fire Division Chief Phillip King against the City of Gilroy has come to an end.

After waives of fee hikes and subsequent protests at California’s public universities, students from middle class families could be getting tuition cuts thanks to a state-sponsored Middle Class Scholarship program that will go into effect next school year.

The Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department will hold open house meetings throughout the county to discuss the County Expressways Improvement Plan and the South County Santa Teresa-Hale Corridor. Residents may drop in any time during the meetings to view information about current conditions on the expressways and to share their ideas for what changes or improvements are needed, according to County staff. All expressways will be on display at every open house. One of the open houses is scheduled for Feb. 13 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. The County Expressways Improvement Plan includes the Almaden, Capitol, Central, Foothill, Lawrence, Montague, Page Mill-Oregon and San Tomas expressways. The Santa Teresa-Hale Corridor runs through South County, west of Monterey Road. The following open house meetings are scheduled:-Tuesday, Jan. 7, 6 to 8 p.m., Seven Trees Community Center, 3590 Cas Drive, San Jose.-Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 to 8 p.m., West Valley Branch Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose. -Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6 to 8 p.m., Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Auditorium, 3331 North First Street, San Jose.-Thursday, Jan. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., Los Altos Youth Center, 1 North San Antonio, Los Altos. -Thursday, Feb. 13, 6 to 8 p.m., Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill. Input gathered at the open houses will be used to compile and evaluate the County’s Expressway Plan 2040, which is a successor to the 2003 Comprehensive County Expressway Planning Study and its 2008 update, according to County staff. The 2003 Comprehensive County Expressway Planning Study documented consensus on potential expressway improvements of all types including capacity and operational enhancements, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, sound walls and landscaping, according to County staff. In 2008, the Santa Teresa Boulevard-Hale Avenue corridor from Gilroy to north of Morgan Hill was added to the study, County staff said. Expressway Plan 2040 will take a new look at the needs of the expressways and the Santa Teresa-Hale corridor based on city land use plans, projected 2040 traffic growth and streets planning, according to County staff. Members of the public may provide comments or get more information by visiting www.expressways.info, sending an e-mail to [email protected], or by calling the project hotline at (408) 573-2417.

The Gavilan College Faculty Association and Gavilan College staff, in conjunction with the Gavilan College Educational Foundation, is organizing a gala fundraising event for Spring 2014. Titled "Sowing Seeds, Nurturing Dreams," the event will raise money to provide scholarships, food assistance and transportation assistance for students in need. It will also be an opportunity to spend an evening on the beautiful Gavilan College Gilroy campus with friends, community members and alumni, and enjoy superb local food and wines, all for a great cause.

Madison Diane Wahl, a 17-year-old senior at GECA, is this week's Student of the Week.

At the end of the 2013/2014 winter holiday DUI crackdown, Santa Clara County law enforcement reported 452 motorists arrested on suspicion of impaired driving during the two-week effort. The arrests were made from Dec. 13 to Jan. 1, by officers from 13 agencies in the County, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office. The arrests were part of the annual “Avoid the 13” campaign to crack down on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The arrests were the result of DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols and routine patrols by officers throughout the County, assisted by a grant from state and federal authorities, according to the press release. During the same winter holiday period a year ago, authorities reported 458 arrests on suspicion of DUI throughout the County, according to the press release. Police will be conducting further DUI crackdown efforts in the coming weeks, on Super Bowl Sunday in February, and on St. Patrick’s Day in March, according to authorities. The Avoid the 13 campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motorists who suspect a fellow motorist of driving impaired on Santa Clara County roads may call 911 to report the incident. 

Christopher's Adam Mena took home his first place finish of the year — and that's not all.  The 126-lb. wrestler earned the Outstanding Wrestler Award after his top finish at the James Lick Varsity Tournament Dec. 20. The Cougars finished third as a team.  Mena was one of seven Christopher wrestlers to finish in the top five at the tournament. Dean Agustin (106) finished second, while Justin Garza (113), Keanu Calimpong (132) and Anthony Figueroa (145) all took third. Tobias Mendoza (138) and Jacob Myers (152) finished fourth. Zack Taylor (195) went 0-2 at the tournament. Cougar wrestlers were also competing at the Varsity Tournament of Champions in Reno on Dec. 20 and 21. Jimmie Lopez (113) finished 4-2, while Felipe Duenas (106) was 2-2. Mario Anchando (126), Raul Meza (132) and heavyweight Navi Pannu all went 0-2.  Christopher will compete at the Doc Buchanon Invitational at 9 a.m. Friday at Clovis High School. 

The Gilroy Police Department responded to a bank robbery at approximately 3:49 p.m. Tuesday at the Union Bank located at 8000 Santa Teresa Blvd., according to a press release from the department. No injuries were reported during the robbery.

It was a battle, but a 38-point second half showing from its opponent was too much for the Christopher girls basketball team to overcome.