Community

Rebekah Children’s Services, a South Valley nonprofit that serves about 14,000 children and families annually, is getting ready to collect and distribute donated gifts for their annual holiday toy drive.  Members of the community who are able to donate are encouraged to drop off new...

Robert Rivas, who represents 29th California district, was re-elected this week as Speaker of the California State Assembly.  Rivas, of Hollister, now begins his second year as Assembly Speaker following a unanimous vote by his Democratic colleagues on Dec. 2.  “I am filled with great pride...

Hollister HS Football (5-7 overall) Recent results: Won 44-40 vs. Capuchino (CCS D3); Lost 40-21 vs. Carmel at Monterey Peninsula College (CCS D3 semifinal) Upcoming games: Season over. NOTES: The Balers led 21-14 at halftime over top-seeded Carmel on a rainy night at MPC. After halftime, the...

After waking up from their post-feast Thanksgiving slumber this week, local residents and families are invited by the Hollister Downtown Association to celebrate the holidays with the annual Lights On and Project Dec-A-Tree events.  The celebration starts with a full day’s schedule of activities at...

Caltrans this week reminded motorists to expect an increase in traffic on the Central Coast during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  With wet and cold weather in the forecast in the days before and after the Nov. 28 holiday, Caltrans in a press release asked motorists to...

The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame honors those who have made extraordinary contributions in the sports world and are South Bay legends. On Nov. 13, the Hall of Fame added four new members and one was Gilroy boxer Robert Guerrero. Another Gilroyan, Nola Matthews,...

U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) announced this week that Gavilan College will receive $375,000 from the National Science Foundation to support STEM education for Latino students. “Diversity in the STEM workforce matters, and I am glad to see Gavilan College is implementing an innovative program...

Re: Local turnout exceeds 64% in Nov. 5 election, Free Lance Nov. 15, 2024 We must think like detectives solving mysteries similar to Sherlock Holmes. Many times the person who looks most innocent is a killer. Confusing ballot measures concerning the future of Hazel Hawkins...

A San Benito County Sheriff’s correctional officer was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence with his children in the vehicle, according to authorities.  About 6:30pm Nov. 20, a Gustine Police officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jorge...

The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office is easing seasonal fire restrictions as of Nov. 19 for about 300,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and...