Our first Red Phone caller of the week asked the Crimson
Crusader when the city was going to get down to some much-needed
weed abatement in downtown Hollister. Our caller said weeds are
growing up between the decorative paving stones on downtown
sidewalks and becoming an eyesore.
Our first Red Phone caller of the week asked the Crimson Crusader when the city was going to get down to some much-needed weed abatement in downtown Hollister. Our caller said weeds are growing up between the decorative paving stones on downtown sidewalks and becoming an eyesore.
The Crimson Crusader made a call to Hollister’s Public Works supervisor, Ray Rojas, to see what could be done. Rojas said weed abatement was one of the many services reduced this year after last November’s failure of Measure R, a 1 percent tax hike initiative. Rojas said city work crews are trying to get rid of weeds in large areas, like vacant lots and parks, at the moment. However, Rojas said he understands that weeds downtown are a problem and that getting rid of the weeds in question will require spot spraying. Rojas said he would get crews out to do some spraying as soon as possible.
An Ugly Paper Trail
Our next Red Phone caller, a Hollister woman and good friend of the Crimson Crusader, called our hero to complain about the mess of shredded paper waste littering the alley behind Hollister City Hall. Our caller referred to the mess as “disgusting” and asked the Crimson Crusader to find out what was being done to clean up the mess and prevent it from happening again.
The Crimson Crusader called City Manager Clint Quilter to get the answer to our caller’s questions. Quilter, a man of few words and swift action, told the Crimson Crusader that unknown persons have been opening the city’s recycling bin located in the alley and spreading the paper waste around. Quilter said the city plans to lock the recycling bin to prevent future problems.
Where’s my Free Lance?
Our next Red Phone caller shouted into the Crimson Crusader’s answering machine that her Hollister Free Lance had not been delivered. The Free Lance is important and if ever there was a reason to shout, it would be if one’s Free Lance wasn’t delivered. The Crimson Crusader forwarded our caller’s address and information to Jeanette Hurtado in the Free Lance Circulation Department at 637-5566 ext. 326.
Crusader Gets confused
Our final Red Phone call came from a lender who left a detailed message about how the Crimson Crusader’s recent mortgage payment history had qualified our hero for an “express quick cash loan.” This call was confusing as the Crimson Crusader does not have a mortgage. But thanks for the message anyway, dearest caller.
Red Phone on Hold
The Crimson Crusader checked in with Union Pacific’s regional public affairs director, Mark Davis, to see what was being done about the rough railroad crossing on Third Street in Hollister. The rough crossing has been featured in Red Phone on Hold several times and has been the source of numerous Red Phone calls.
Davis said crews recently inspected the crossing and would try to work the crossing improvement project into next year’s budget. However, Davis said he couldn’t guarantee the crossing would be fixed this year. Until improvements are made, this matter remains on hold, 47 days and counting.
