Agriculture

San Benito County Supervisors at a recent meeting approved a conditional use permit for the Betabel commercial project, after hearing two appeals against the proposal due to its likely impacts on the environment and tribal lands. The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Nov. 8 to...

Pumpkin giveaway event set in Hollister Gonzalez and Jones Law is hosting a community event on Oct. 7 to give away pumpkins to families in need in Hollister. The event will be held at 905 San Benito St. in Hollister from 1-4pm. All families who are in...

The 2024 Gilroy Rodeo broke records for highest attendance and the most contestants participating in the event’s seven-year history on Aug. 9-11.  More than 1,000 contestants competed and performed in the local rodeo, which is run entirely by volunteers and returns all of its annual...

After a slow start to conserving water in our community, residents started stepping up their efforts in late August. We need more of this effort, but it’s very encouraging news to see our community respond. The following data, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, was...

For the first time in its 89-year history, the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo hosted a sellout crowd in the 3,000-plus seat Bolado Park arena, according to organizers.  The show and rodeo took place this past weekend, June 23-25, in Tres Pinos....

A highlight of this year’s San Benito County Fair in Tres Pinos was the Oct. 5 junior livestock auction, in which students raised more than $1.1 million. Local 4-H and FFA students auctioned off more than 300 animals on auction day, according to fair organizers....

This column is probably more along the lines of what many would expect from a wine related column—this one is about a South Valley winery. This winery represents many of the aspects of my past columns, so let’s take a look. We are fortunate to...

It’s a day that seemed like it might not ever happen: Robert Rivas was sworn in Friday morning as speaker of the California Assembly. The ascension of the Hollister Democrat—who represents the 29th Assembly District—to lead the lower chamber of the Legislature brings to a...

Another atmospheric river is expected to wash over the Bay Area this weekend, bringing significant risks of flooding in coastal areas and in some riversheds. Forecasters with the National Weather Service's Bay Area office expect showers throughout Friday before steadier rain arrives on Saturday. Most...

Measure Q, a hotly contested ballot question that would have required future voter approvals for many new construction projects in San Benito County, appears headed toward defeat.  Early, unofficial results of the Nov. 8 election, posted to the county’s elections site, show that “No” votes...