Council moves to ask voters to increase Hollister hotel tax
The Hollister City Council voted last week to put a proposed occupancy tax increase on the ballot for the November 2024 general election. If passed, this would be the first time since 1986 that voters will decide to increase the tax on hotel stays...
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Hollister rehab facility
A wrongful death lawsuit filed earlier this month in San Benito County Superior Court accuses Hollister drug rehabilitation facility Bright Future Recovery of negligence related to the 2021 death of Andrew McConnell, a patient of the facility.
According to the lawsuit filed Aug. 11 on...
Letter: Mayor is the one who is misled
Re: Free Lance 8/18/23
I am trying to understand the mayor of Hollister. This regards the reporter's interview with Council member Resendiz and Mayor Casey. With a great deal of concentration I am considering the facts. It seems that what is said reveals the authentic...
Spartan Race brings healthy competition to Paicines
Hundreds of athletes and adventure racing hobbyists traveled to Paicines Ranch in San Benito County Aug. 26-27 from throughout the West Coast and beyond—and some from outside the U.S.—for the San Jose Spartan Race.
Competitors ran, walked and crawled along numerous courses on the ranch’s...
Police locate aggressive dogs
Hollister Police Animal Care and Services recently located and have taken custody of three dogs they think are responsible for a series of attacks on local cats, according to authorities.
On Aug. 13, police received a report of a dead cat in the area of...
Applications now open for Arts Express Grant Program
The San Benito County Arts Council is seeking applications for its 2023 Arts Express Grant Program.
The goal of the Arts Express Grant Program is to promote artistic and cultural engagement, accessibility, equity and diversity in San Benito County. Local artists, art groups, arts and...
Council approves new ALPR cameras in Central Hollister
The Hollister City Council voted Aug. 21 to partner with Flock Safety to provide gunshot detection and license plate reading cameras for a roughly one square mile area of Hollister.
The council gave Mayor Mia Casey the green light to sign a two-year contract with...
Hazel Hawkins receives $10 million from state loan program
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Aug. 24 announced $300 million worth of zero-interest loans for struggling hospitals, including Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital which will receive $10 million from the program.
The Hollister hospital, which declared bankruptcy earlier this year, will receive the funds in the coming...
Local Scene: NROTC scholarships available
Planning and Saving for College
The Community Foundation for San Benito County will host a financial education workshop on “Planning and Saving for College” on Sept. 27 at the Epicenter conference room, 440 San Benito Street in Hollister. Two sessions will take place, 11:30am-1pm and...
Letter: Don’t blame unions for hospital’s dilemma
As a retired Registered Nurse (R.N.), I read with great dismay the letter to the Free Lance by Louis Wilmington dated Aug. 11.
Wilmington stated that the financial crisis at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital can be “traced back nearly two decades of questionable management and...
