News

Voters will decide in March if the San Benito County supervisors’ decision to rezone four areas along Highway 101 for commercial development should be repealed. After county elections officials validated the signatures gathered by a group opposing the September decision, the supervisors voted unanimously Nov....

The Hollister City Council is starting over in its search for a new city manager. After a month of rare consensus, the council is now more divided than ever. Ending two turbulent weeks, the council returned to its familiar 3-2 voting pattern on Monday, Nov....

Brett Miller, Hollister’s assistant city manager and manager of administrative services, is acting city manager. Miller’s appointment Friday afternoon, Nov. 15, was one of the last acts of Bill Avera on his last day on the job before his retirement as city manager. One day earlier,...

Hollister’s Interim City Manager Paul Eckert resigned today, Nov. 14, after just eight days on the job, according to Mayor Ignacio Velazquez. Velazquez said Eckert delivered a resignation letter to the city late Thursday afternoon, one day before City Manager Bill Avera’s retirement and one...

Hollister Police arrested two men in possession of drugs and illegal weapons after stopping a vehicle for a traffic violation, according to authorities. About 1:53am  Nov. 9, Hollister Police Officer Rene Rayas was on patrol when he noticed a vehicle weaving within the road and...

Within days after the Hollister City Council backtracked on a commitment to hire Paul Eckert as its new city manager—hiring him instead on an interim basis—even that appointment was increasingly in doubt this week. Eckert’s job status was to be the subject of another closed-door...

Hollister’s Kmart is one of nearly 100 store locations slated to close across the country, owner Transformco announced Nov. 7. A total of 96 Kmart and Sears stores will close by February, with going-out-of-business sales expected to begin Dec. 2, according to the company. “Since purchasing...

The fans showed up in droves to the Aromas School gymnasium Nov. 6, hoping to grab an autograph and a photo with the VIPs who were invited to an annual ceremony. These weren’t some movie stars who have posed as superheroes on the big screen....

An environmental impact report for a proposed mining operation south of Gilroy that faces opposition from a Native American tribe is expected to be released mid-November. Rob Eastwood, principal planner for the County of Santa Clara, said county officials are targeting a mid-month release for...

Faced with public outcry over revelations of the settlement of an Iowa sexual harassment lawsuit against its choice for a new city manager, the Hollister City Council voted 4-1 Nov. 4 to hire Paul Eckert on an interim basis only. The surprise decision, with council...