Our first Red Phone caller of the week, a Hollister man, asked
the Crimson Crusader to get something done about the graffiti on
the wall behind what used to be an orchard on the corner of
Sunnyslope and Airline Highway in Hollister. The orchard was torn
down last week to make way for the future Highway 25 bypass.
Our first Red Phone caller of the week, a Hollister man, asked the Crimson Crusader to get something done about the graffiti on the wall behind what used to be an orchard on the corner of Sunnyslope and Airline Highway in Hollister. The orchard was torn down last week to make way for the future Highway 25 bypass.
The Crimson Crusader gave a call over to Hollister Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless to see what could be done. Chambless said he sent a notice to the property owner last week about the problem and would be following up on the issue in the coming weeks.
Time is on Bank’s side
Our next Red Phone caller sent the Crimson Crusader a dozen roses with a note attached asking our hero to get the clock changed at the Union Bank of California on Airline Highway in Hollister.
The Crimson Crusader called Union Bank’s local customer service manager, Julie Palafox, to see what could be done. Palafox, the friendliest bank official our hero has talked to in years, said the clock was fixed over the weekend and now reflects the correct time. Palafox said bank staff had been aware that the clock was one hour behind. She said it had been on an automatic schedule and since daylight-saving time came early this year, the clock was off. However, now the clock is fixed and everything is awesome.
Next time, dearest caller, send roses to Palafox and the staff at Union Bank; they deserve the real credit on this one.
Street repaving query
Our next Red Phone caller, a Hollister man, asked the Crimson Crusader for some additional information about planned repaving work on Palmtag Avenue and Richardson Street in Hollister. Our caller wanted to know if the street level would be raised or lowered as a result of the work.
Our hero called David Rubcic, the city’s associate civil engineer, to get the answer. He said the repaving project, scheduled for this summer, will not raise or lower the street level. The street level will likely stay the same, dearest caller.
Slow down, partner
Our next Red Phone matter came from a Hollister woman concerned about lead-footed drivers racing past her home. Our caller asked the Crimson Crusader to see if police could patrol Memorial Road near Peach, Apple and Cherry streets in Hollister more frequently to catch these speed racers.
The Crimson Crusader rang up Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller to see what could be done. Miller said he would talk to patrol officers this week and remind them about the problem area near Marguerite Maze Middle School.
Red Phone on Hold
Time to get down to business again on the Kentucky Fried Chicken sign that looms over San Benito Street. This ever-present symbol of inefficient bureaucracy got the Crimson Crusader thinking about chainsaws and demolition crews again after languishing on hold, as it were, for 64 days.
Since the Crimson Crusader first brought this to the attention of city leaders, little has been done and the sign continues to hang above the vacant lot on San Benito Street. City Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless drafted a formal letter to the property owner Feb. 21 ordering the sign to be removed by March 30. It is now April 4. The Crimson Crusader called up Chambless to see what progress had been made.
Chambless said the KFC sign was on his list of priorities and he recently scheduled an administrative hearing regarding this matter. At the hearing, scheduled sometime in May, the property owner could be fined up to $1,000 per day for failing to comply with the order. Until May, dearest readers, this matter remains on hold, 64 days and counting.
