News

The California Highway Patrol is investigating reports that at least one male suspect threw rocks at passing motorists on Pacheco Pass Highway earlier this month. On Sunday evening, Aug. 12, the drivers of five vehicles were struck by rocks thrown by a male pedestrian, according...

Historians and rancher aficionados came out for Vaquero Heritage Days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17-19 at St. Francis Retreat in San Juan Bautista. The annual event recalls the Rancho Era, from the 1770s to the 1840s coinciding with the establishment of Spanish missions. Vaquero...

The tomato harvest is in full swing in the Central Valley, and locally in San Benito County, and it promises to be bountiful, in more ways than one. The California Farm Bureau reported this month that California tomato producers expect to have contracts for 11.9...

The final ballots have been set for the Nov. 6 election, and the 2018 local political season begins in earnest. In Hollister, both the mayor and city council seats are up for grabs. Two county supervisor seats also are on the ballot. The Free Lance sent questionnaires...

The Hollister City Council unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the city’s firefighters earlier this month. The contract with the Local 3395 union provides members with a 4 percent raise for each of the first two years, and a 5 percent raise for the...

In June, Darren Thompson won re-election to a third consecutive four-year term as Sheriff of San Benito County. Here are his written answers to some questions posed by the Free Lance, subject to some editing for space considerations. Question:  Tell us about yourself and your...

The City of Hollister will be charging higher fees for a wide range of services following an Aug. 20 unanimous vote by the City Council. The fees applied to four departments; the city Recreation Division, Fire Department, Police Department and Development Services Department. Many classes through...

The final ballots have been set for the Nov. 6 election, and the 2018 local political season has begun for San Benito county boards of education. The Free Lance sent questionnaires last week to each candidate. Here are the candidates at a glance: Gavilan Community College Joint...

Hollister police arrested a man who tried to dispose of a loaded handgun while he ran from an officer, according to authorities. The suspect was ultimately booked on suspicion of multiple weapons and drug offenses. About 3:37am Aug. 1, Hollister Police Officer Juan Guevara was...

A 56-year-old woman who was driving her vehicle in the wrong direction on U.S. 101 south of Hollister died after colliding head-on with another motorist, according to authorities. About 1:15am Aug. 19, Catherine Henry, 56, of San Anselmo, was driving a Toyota Camry northbound on...