Massive snowpack good news for drought, but flood concerns grow
The latest statewide snowpack measurement from the California Department of Water Resources is another indication that the tremendously wet winter might have been too much of a good thing.
The agency’s readings from 130 snow sensors placed throughout the Sierra Nevada show the snowpack’s snow-water...
Baler boys volleyball closes strong, looks ahead to playoffs
The Hollister boys volleyball team closed the regular season with a gut-check win April 30 over on the coast at Seaside, beating the Spartans 11-25, 26-24, 25-12, 25-18. The victory gave the Balers a third consecutive solid season with a 21-15 overall record, and...
Rebuilding season
After a load of graduations, the Hollister volleyball team is rebuilding and holding its own in the competitive play of the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Gabilan Division.
The league is led by Carmel and Salinas, with the Balers just on the outside edge of a...
County office celebrates School Employees of the Year
The San Benito County Office of Education held its annual Certificated and Classified Employee of the Year Celebration on April 17.
Each year, schools in San Benito County are invited to select one Certificated and one Classified employee who has had a significant impact on...
Rodeo time
The San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo kicked off rodeo week on June 22 with the annual rodeo parade in downtown Hollister.
The procession began with a traditional cattle drive down the middle of San Benito Street, featuring dozens of steers, longhorn cattle...
Hollister Police warn of ‘swatting’ trend at schools
Hollister Police last week sent out a public advisory about a recent nationwide flurry of false threats of violence against students and school staff—including some incidents in San Benito County.
Such false reports, which are often posted and recirculated on social media, are known as...
What you need to know about flu, RSV, Covid
Don't call it a tripledemic—yet.
Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Covid-19 are circulating this fall, but not yet at the rate that worried public health agencies a year ago.
As we approach the time of winter when these diseases usually peak, around December to February,...
Letter: More action needed to slow climate change
Re: Wildfires and climate a vicious cycle
On this 22nd anniversary of the worst catastrophic occurrence in our country (9/11) we read of yet another impending catastrophe. Our California wildfires are at issue. They cause problems elsewhere. No disagreement is apparent concerning these problems but...
Letter: Overcome greed
Re: “Medi-Cal not the solution to expand healthcare,” Free Lance, March 29.
What have we learned from the pandemic, or are we in another pandemic? The symptoms seem to be having a hunger when we are not hungry. These symptoms are not like body obesity...
Local Scene: New telehealth service for pet care
New telehealth service available for pet care
The East Bay SPCA has launched a telemedicine service available to all California residents for a variety of services like consultations and accessing certain prescriptions.
Appointments can be made for prescriptions for preventive treatments such as flea, tick and...


















