News

The clock was winding down in Gavilan’s season opener against Yuba, but that didn’t damper Brandon Pickens’ spirit.

Gilroy

A house fire in an east Morgan Hill neighborhood caused about $50,000 worth of structure damage Wednesday night, according to authorities.About 6:18 p.m. the 911 dispatch center received a call reporting the fire on Darnis Circle, according to CalFire Fire Prevention Specialist Pam Temmermand. The blaze started in the garage of the home, and spread to the attic, Temmermand said. Crews estimate about $50,000 worth of damage was inflicted by the blaze.The fire started accidentally, but authorities did not elaborate on the cause.No injuries were reported.  

Volleyball

Too many public safety employees in Gilroy are claiming the tax-free haven of a disability retirement, according to a June report by the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury.

The 490-acre Triple Buck Ranch, previously owned by the Della Maggiora family, is going to become a part of Mt. Madonna County Park soon. The Redwood Retreat Road property in Gilroy features more than a half mile of Little Arthur Creek, and the acquisition will eventually enable the linking of a future trail from the Little Arthur property to Mt. Madonna County Park. So, more recreational opportunities ahead that our community should be capitalizing on. Hike South County … who has more trailheads than us? Nobody.

‘Nook’ readers donated to Gilroy High by Christopher family a good example

The Federal Aviation Administration sees no reason why skydiving should not be allowed at South County Airport in San Martin, and has denied the County’s appeal to forbid Garlic City Skydiving from opening up on its premises.

A San Jose man was arrested after leading Morgan Hill police on a high-speed chase that originated with a report of loud music, police said. About midnight Wednesday, officers responded to the area of Del Monte Avenue and Preservation Way after someone called to report loud music coming from a parked Lexus, according to an MHPD press release. As officers arrived on scene, the vehicle fled to a home on the 15000 block of Del Monte Avenue and three occupants of the Lexus fled into a house, police said. Police ran the Lexus’ license plate and learned the vehicle’s registered owner was wanted on a no-bail warrant, the release said. Officers questioned two of the three people who fled into the nearby residence, and they were uncooperative. Officers stayed at the scene to keep an eye on the parked Lexus, and after about an hour the car was seen leaving the residence, police said. Officers tried to stop the vehicle but the driver led police on a high-speed pursuit to San Jose, where the driver abandoned the vehicle and attempted to continue to flee on foot on Aborn Road. Police caught up to the suspect, later identified as Brandon Harrell, 23 of San Jose, and arrested him, according to police. Harrell was booked at Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of evading an officer, resisting arrest and a felony warrant. Anyone with information about this incident can contact Morgan Hill Police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867. 

Police arrested a suspected thief after a resident observed the man stealing mail out of mailboxes on a north Morgan Hill residential street, according to authorities. Morgan Hill police were dispatched to the 19000 block of Cheyenne Court on a report of a suspicious person about 3 a.m. Tuesday, according to an MHPD press release.Officers contacted the suspect, Erik Gonzales, 36 of San Jose, on suspicion of possession of stolen mail and possession of a stolen vehicle, police said. The resident who reported the crime told dispatch they saw Gonzales removing mail from mailboxes along the street and placing the items into an orange Mitsubishi convertible, police said. When officers arrived to the neighborhood, they located the Mitsubishi which had paper dealership plates, according to the release. Police approached the vehicle and saw Gonzales sitting inside. The car “was filled with stolen mail from nearby houses (and) in fact the vehicle he was sitting in was also stolen out of San Jose,” police said. Gonzales was booked into Santa Clara County Jail, according to police. Police gave credit to the resident who reported Gonzales’ suspicious behavior for helping to arrest the suspect. Anyone with information about this case can contact Morgan Hill Police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.