Category: kion-local-news

Sergio Berrueta

SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Soledad officially appointed Patrick G. Valenzuela as its new Chief of Police Wednesday evening ahead of its special council meeting.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chief Patrick Valenzuela to Soledad,” said City Manager Megan Hunter. “His extensive experience, commitment to community safety, and leadership in law enforcement make him the perfect fit for this role.”

Valenzuela is from the Glendale Police Department in Arizona where he served since 1996. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as well as the U.S. Navy.

Before this, Valenzuela earned a Master’s degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University.

“My promise to you is strong leadership and steadfast support as we work to uphold the highest standards of law enforcement,” said Valenzuela. “To our community, my pledge is simple: we will be visible, we will be responsive, and we will work tirelessly alongside you to address our challenges and celebrate our success.”

Soledad asks for public opinion for the next police chief via survey

SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION-TV) — The selection process for the next Soledad Police Chief may lie in the hands of community members with a new community survey.

Those living in Soledad can take the survey to give their say on what they hope to see in the next chief.

Longtime Soledad Police Chief Damon Wasson retired after serving 17 years at the Soledad Police Department, a part of his 36 years in law enforcement.

The five-question survey includes questions such as what skills are critical for the role, what leadership they should possess, and how the Chief should engage with the community.

It is available online in English and Spanish along with physical copies at City Hall. The survey will end on April 4th.

Soledad Deputy Chief Fred Lombardi is the interim chief as the city determines its pick for the role.

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Victor Guzman

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — Matt Merritt has been rolling around the rodeo circuit for more than 20 years, with multiple stops made at the California Rodeo Salinas.

In an interview with KION on Wake Up, Matt talks about some of his favorite moments and some of the hurdles he’s faced through his travels across all sorts of rodeos.

Big Week Bullriding and General Rodeo tickets are still available.

Bull riding is July 16 from 7 to 9 pm while rodeo times vary from July 17 to the 20th.

For tickets, click here

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Victor Guzman

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — California Rodeo Salinas Chair Laurie LaVelle talks to KION about the Heritage Museum and some of the old pieces that make up the rodeo’s history.

From the large stage coach display to other displays dedicated to the rodeo queens, athletes and clowns, there’s plenty of history to look back on since the rodeo started in the early 1900’s.

The Heritage Museum is open 4 to 8:30 pm on July 17 and 18, plus 11 am to 4 pm on July 19 and 20. It’s also open by special appointment throughout the year.

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Victor Guzman

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) – One driver has suffered severe injuries following a five-vehicle crash late last night on Highway 1.

According to CHP, the crash happened around 11:55 p.m. as five vehicles crashed into one another. Each vehicle only had one driver with no passengers.

Injuries ranged from no injuries to major.

While the crash remains under investigation, DUI is suspected as a factor at this time.

Multi-vehicle crash causes Highway 1 closure near Aguajito Road

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Northbound Highway 1 is shut down near Aguajito Road after multiple vehicles were involved in a crash late Monday night.

The CHP says at least one person suffered major injuries following the crash.

CHP Dispatch says they’re diverting northbound traffic onto Highway 68. All lanes are still open on the southbound side of Highway 1.

CHP’s public dispatch log shows around 3 to 5 vehicles were involved.

This is a developing story

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jose.romo

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — The solidarity network in Monterey County says they have not been able to confirm rumors of ICE and Border Patrol staying in hotels along the Peninsula. Videos on social media are causing concern among some community members in Monterey County.

Some posts said ice agents were renting hotel rooms in the region. Others claimed a possible presence in Salinas.

“I have not seen (ICE) activity.” Angie Alfaro lives a few blocks from some of the sightings reported on North Main Street in Salinas. “You know, because if they’re in unmarked cars they’re not as how do you say visible to the eyesight to see.” 

But the solidarity network says so far, nothing has been confirmed.

“What I can share is that some community members and workers in that area confirmed that they saw multiple black vans without plates, but I believe they saw some logos with the agency information.”

Victor Caravez with the Solidarity Network says Monterey County has not seen any large ICE raids like in other parts of the state. He adds that to this point, the only ICE sightings have been targeted incidents where agents are searching for an individual with a criminal record. 

“Every time somebody from the community has a concern and they call the hotline, we basically contact our group of people and volunteers, and they can go out and verify the information before it actually gets out on social media.”

The Network says posting or sharing unverified information not only causes panic and confusion; it also spreads fear among our most vulnerable neighbors.

Immigration attorney, Blanca Zarazua, recommends caution when filming or documenting ICE activity. 

“I would recommend no direct contact, physical or verbal, with anyone who says they’re an officer,” she said. “You don’t want to expose yourself by committing some assault or something else that’s objectionable, or interference with their operations, because then you’re really exposed to charges against you.” 

The Solidarity Network says they are working on a potential app that will share their verified information with the community. They urge those who can to document sightings and always first call their hotline. You can also call their hotline at (831) 204-8082. 

The Solidarity Network will be hosting training sessions for its hotline on July 21st and 26th.

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jose.romo

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — The California Rodeo Salinas officially kicks off this week, and local western wear shops have been busy getting ready for the big event. Many Rodeo enthusiasts are looking to upgrade their hats, boots, and other western wear. 

“We usually start seeing higher customer turnout around this time,” the owner of El Reparo Western Apparel, Rene Martinez Campos, says. They started getting inventory ready two months ahead of the Rodeo. He adds that they initially would ask for a booth at various rodeos, but now they are invited to showcase their products. 

He adds that each rodeo they visit is another opportunity to meet customers who can later return to their store. 

The California Rodeo Salinas says the event creates more than $11 million in new economic activity over the course of the entire week.

“There’s a variety, a lot of out-of-state (customers), too. So it’s a really big rodeo,” Ruth, Rene’s daughter, says their family-oriented business looks forward to the event every year. “But I mean, you have finalists coming in, so that’s also exciting in itself. And it’s also a way to bring people together, too. So that’s a good thing, especially during this time.” 

She adds they work to fit the demands of the customer. “I mean, here it’s agricultural-based, and we try to bring that into the business as well. So just include our community.“

The Rodeo also says that in 2014, it generated $150,150 in transient occupancy tax and $91,406 in sales tax revenues to local and state governments. Last year, they saw a total of 100,351 people in attendance.

California Rodeo Salinas also says they will be conducting a new economic impact study at this year’s Rodeo week. This will update the 2014 numbers from a CSUMB economic impact study. They plan to have new numbers by next January.

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Mickey Adams

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — A Monterey County judge will be hearing arguments on Monday for a lawsuit filed against the County Ag Commissioner and Department of Pesticide Regulation over pesticide use near public schools.

The lawsuit challenges, initiated April of last year, accuses the institutions of using — what plaintiffs call — highly toxic and legally restricted pesticides.

They say that three schools in the Pajaro Valley area were affected, alleging that children suffered a variety of health effects from difficulty breathing to more serious health issues like cancer risk.

It also says unsafe fumigant levels have been recorded at Ohlone Elementary School’s air monitoring station for 12 years straight.

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Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Moto-America Superbike Speedfest at Monterey officially kicked off their 2025 season Friday.

And on Saturday — day two of the event — former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer Wayne Rainey returned to the racetrack in Monterey after a 34-year hiatus.

“It was amazing to get back out there on the track where I’ve had so much success and love to race,” said Rainey. “To just get out there and have fun and accelerate and to ride with all my buddies was a real thrill. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was surprised how fast it was.”

Rainey headlined the jam-packed day, kicking off the event with a fundraiser for the World Racing Action Fund following a racing accident in 1993 that left Rainey paralyzed from the waist down.

Some of Saturday’s other highlights included victories for Ducati’s Josh Herrin taking the checkered flag in the Superbike class.

Alessandro di Mario of Aprilia continued his reign in the SC-Project Twins Cup.

Yamaha’s Blake Davis took home the Race 1 victory in Motovation Supersport, while James Rispoli (Harley-Davidson) came out on top of the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship.

Racing continues Sunday with six main events, including two superbike races at noon and 3 p.m.

Fans can also enjoy a bustling vendor midway, rider autograph session and another CHP salute lap.

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Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Santa Cruz County is offering free mosquito-eating fish from the guppy family to county residents.

These fish — literally called The Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis) — are natural predators of mosquitos, making them an environmental friendly alternative to mosquito control without the use of chemicals.

The main purpose behind this program is to limit the possibility of the spread of disease. 

“People are often surprised to know that we have mosquitoes on the coast,” Amanda Poulsen, assistant vector control manager, said. “We do have at least two species that are really good at transmitting west nile virus to people and so you know, we are definitely concerned about their disease carrying potential.”

These fish are not native to California but are only introduced into man-made systems, like water troughs, disused pools or ornamental ponds.

Poulsen said even though they are not originally from the state, because they are not entering natural systems, they do not upset the balance of the ecosystem. 

An adult fish is capable of eating hundreds of mosquito larvae a day  and vecause of this, it limits the chance of a mosquito laying disease-infected eggs and have them go on to bite someone. 

“We also have species that can transmit dog and cat heartworm,” Poulsen said. “So if folks are concerned about their pets getting disease, mosquitoes are definitely something we want to minimize

Jadyn Sacoolas, a worker from the mosquito and vector control, said they bring mosquito larvae and pupae back to identify so the vector can figure out what species are in the local water sources.

“We set these pretty large traps that have our name on it,” Sacoolas said. “They emit CO1 and sometimes human lures to bring in the mosquitoes.”

The program is funded by a small fee on the property tax bill to local home and property owners and it helps to provide supplies for the storage of the fish. 

“We’re very conscious with our budget, this whole set up was designed and built by one of our vector control specialists,” Poulsen said. “He built this all from scratch.”

The vector also provides rodent exclusion inspections, tick identification, and monitoring and control of mosquitoes throughout the whole county.

These fish have a life expexctancy of 2-3 years and reproduce in large numbers. If you do not need the fish anymore the county will take them back.

Despite their results, these fish are not the solution for everyone

“If anybody’s source in their backyard has the potential to overflow in a natural body of water, maybe mosquito fish aren’t right for you,” Poulsen said. “But we do like to get eyes on it and we’ll bring them to you.”

To request some of these little mosquito-eaters, visit the county’s application website at www2.santacruzcountyca.gov/agc/AGCServiceRequest/ServiceRequest/Create.

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Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — KION got a taste of one local legacy ice cream parlor in Santa Cruz.

Co-owner of Marianne’s Ice Cream Charlie Wilcox divulged what makes their ice cream a Santa Cruz staple. Wilcox pretty much attributing to the secret ingredient being the Santa Cruz community bringing in the local flavor.

“We serve the Ocean Street location about 80 flavors every day, and we make over 150 different recipes throughout the year,” he said.

Marianne’s Ice Cream started back in 1947 and has been known as a local legacy ever since, best enjoyed by Santa Cruzans and others from the Central Coast over connection and sharing memories.

“Marianne has been around for 78 years, which kind of means that if you’ve lived in Santa Cruz, at any point in your life, you’ve got something that’s connected with us and, hopefully, we’ve got something that’s done well for you,” said Wilcox. “I think it’s really about your memories, your life. It’s an anchor that brings you home. When you come here, you know that you’re coming back to a place that has always carried you.”

Wilcox says that while the ice cream used to be made at their flagship Ocean Street location, since they’ve grown over the decades, so has the need for more space. Now, the ice cream is made in their own ice cream factory on the Westside.

“We take our cream, milk, whey, sugar (obviously) and all those ingredients… we mix them together and we run them through a machine that chills them down to about 20 degrees in about two minutes,” explained Wilcox. “[That] machine will actually make about 150 gallons of ice cream.”

One of Marianne’s more popular flavors was inspired by the rowdy and territorial local otters. Otter 841, as she became known a few years back…

“She was getting ready to raise a pup and she stole some of the surfer’s surfboards and would take a bite out,” said Wilcox about Otter 841’s inspiration to the flavor’s namesake. “Our cinnamon caramel base ice cream is a real unsung hero. It has a little bite. it’s good. it’s sweet. it’s cute…”

According to Wilcox, while the sheer amount of flavors may seem overwhelming, Marianne’s is still open to new, fun and weird flavor requests.

“We’ve been making new, fun, weird stuff for a lot longer than everybody else has,” said Wilcox. “That’s why it really is our signature. Come in and you can see our flavor ball.”

Charlie wrapped up KION’s ice cream tour with a little anecdote: When you visit a new town, ask for where to get the best ice cream because if it’s a small place — a “mom and pop shop” — that means that the town has soul.

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