Community

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors held a special joint meeting with the Planning Commision on June 6 to discuss updates to the county’s General Plan, specifically those that deal with long-term land use and housing needs.  The board received presentations from the commission...

Two teenagers were transported to a nearby hospital—one with serious injuries—after their vehicle crashed and rolled over on Highway 25 in San Benito County on June 4, according to authorities.  The accident happened about 9:25am just south of Tres Pinos, according to the California Highway...

Re: Hollister council rebukes another colleague, Free Lance, May 19 If a fire occurs inside a movie theatre, the sound system does not advise attendees to remain seated. We understand the alarm must be sounded and exits opened for safety. Similarly at the May 15...

The City of Hollister took a big step toward boosting the amount of food trucks allowed on public streets following a unanimous vote by the city council during Monday evening’s meeting. Councilmembers Tim Burns, Rolan Resendiz, Rick Perez and Mayor Mia Casey all voted yes...

Hollister High School this week announced its top 10 students in the Class of 2023, based on grade point average and other academic factors.  This year’s Hollister High valedictorian is Ava Thatcher, and the salutatorian is Alejandro Beltran, according to the school’s announcement. The remainder...

Seventeen Hollister High School seniors received medals at a recognition luncheon last week to honor the fact that they had perfect attendance throughout all four years on campus. Not all students were available during the lunchtime event, but the five present received a welcome...

The Sans Topo Ranch in San Benito County, which has been owned and managed by five generations of the Sans family since 1926, will be preserved in its current state forever after the California Rangeland Trust purchased a conservation easement for the property.  The 4,500-acre...

It’s somewhat improbable that both Julie Maldonado and her daughter, Mary Villegas, have worked simultaneously in the Hollister School District for multiple decades.  Perhaps even more astonishing is that Villegas has taught for 20 years with cerebral palsy.  The duo reflected on their time and experiences...

The deadline to apply for direct assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was extended to July 20 for California residents in 12 counties who were impacted by winter storms.  The extension gives residents in San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and other impacted counties an...

After an investigation that lasted about one year, authorities from San Benito County and neighboring agencies arrested an alleged gang member on June 1 who was in possession of more than 20 illegal firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, according to the sheriff’s...