Community

Hollister High School's Andy Hardin Stadium was transformed into an Olympic-style venue on May 5, as more than 400 students with disabilities from 20 schools in San Benito and southern Santa Clara counties competed in the annual Gifted Games.  After a six-year hiatus, this year's...

The San Benito Health Care District this week announced the next steps in the ongoing process to finalize the lease-to-own transaction between Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and Insight. While progress has been made, there is still crucial work ahead to complete the transaction. In...

Last week the smaller print piece in the Free Lance side bar labeled “Local Scene” got my attention. The title “State to study cancer risk of fighting wildfires” had me opening the paper focused on further information. Everyone is interested in cancer risk.   Our surrounding...

Joe Vallejo braced himself on the deck, pulling down his hat with both hands to cover his eyes. Then the countdown started. Transmitting over the radio speakers of the U.S.S. Lipan, the crew in the airplane above counted off the last seconds.  Suddenly, everything went...

Hollister’s Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital welcomed the first baby of the year just after midnight on Jan. 1—a girl who weighed in at nearly 6 pounds, according to the hospital.  Parents Elizabeth Hernandez and Gilbert Valencia welcomed their daughter, Genesis, to the world at 12:04am...

How many people can say they positively affected thousands of children in their lives? Gene Cotter was among the very few in that prestigious club.

Hundreds of local students participated in the San Benito County Office of Education’s 2025 STEAM Expo on March 13 at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister. The expo showcased 240 student projects in Math, Science, Art and Technology from throughout San Benito County.  This...

On the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11, Hollister FFA students continued the tradition of placing flags on Senior Mound to represent the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The recognition was a lunchtime ceremony in the main campus quad in commemoration of Patriot Day,...

The Hollister Police Department as well as the local office of the California Highway Patrol will each conduct DUI checkpoints at different locations in South Valley the evening of May 19, according to authorities.  Hollister Police announced this week that officers will hold a checkpoint...

A premier northern California focal point for the preservation, enjoyment, instruction and performance of bluegrass music is in San Benito County, where the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival takes place the second weekend of August every year in Tres Pinos.  The 31st annual festival, Aug....