After a violent weekend that left one dead and two injured, the SCPD are now looking for a man who fired into a home near Woodrow Avenue and Walk Circle on Monday evening. According to police, the suspect, a short, bald Latino man of about 23, fired three shots from a revolver into the house at about 6:40 pm, and then fled the scene on a mountain bike.
Articles by Danny Wool
A Beautiful Day For The Triathlon
The weather was perfect on Sunday for the city’s 28th Annual Triathlon.
A Violent Weekend in Santa Cruz
Police are investigating the shooting death of Omar Alejandro Lopez at 1am Saturday. Lopez was sitting in the passenger seat of a car on 17th Avenue and Rodriguez Street when an unidentified assailant came up from behind and shot him. His friend, who was in the driver’s seat, drove to a local gas station and called the police, but it was too late. Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still investigating the murder, but say that they have very few leads. They do, however, believe that Lopez, 22, was specifically targeted, and advise residents of the normally quiet neighborhood that they do not think that they are in any danger. It was the city’s 13th homicide this year.
Former Mayor Breeds World-Class Flowers
Some people breed orchids while others breed roses. Then there’s Joe Ghio, a Santa Cruz native who served as mayor in 1975, 1977 and 1980. He breeds irises, and he’s considered one of the top hybridizers in the world. In 1980, he received the American Iris Society Dykes Memorial Medal, a rare honor for iris breeders, with only one awarded per year. Thirty years later, 71-year-old Ghio is hoping to break all precedents by winning the medal a second time.
Local Business Goes Solar
Santa Cruz businesses are getting into hot water, solar-style. The first business to take advantage of the new California Solar Initiative (CSI) Thermal Program for commercial businesses is Toadal Fitness, which installed a 12-panel Free Hot Water commercial system. It is estimated that the new system, which will heat all the water used by the facility, will generate more than 1200 therms per year on average. Over 25 years, this will save 202 metric tons of CO2 from being released into the environment.
Santa Cruz County Enacts Moratorium on Marijuana Dispensaries
Supervisors are planning o enact a moratorium, prohibiting the opening of any new dispensaries, at least until rules and regulations for the marijuana industry are enacted. In practice, that would mean at least until the election, when voters decide whether to legalize pot.
Bad Night on Soquel Drive
Two people were shot in Soquel on Thursday, and there are conflicting reports about the state of one of the victims. Police report that a man and a women were shot at Soquel and Dover Drive shortly after 11:00 pm. According to initial reports, the shots were fired after a domestic dispute.
Residents Discuss What They Want in New Police Chief
It has been three weeks since Police Chief Howard Skerry retired, and the city is still looking for the perfect candidate to replace him. Acting Police Chief Kevin Vogel wants the job, and has said that he plans to apply. He may be the perfect candidate.
Two Men Fall from Cliff Near Davenport
Two men, ages 21 and 25, fell 25 feet from a rocky outcrop overlooking the beach at Panther State Park near Davenport on Wednesday afternoon. At least one of them was hurt seriously.
40-Day Protest Against Abortion Begins
Forty days. That’s how long the Flood lasted in the time of Noah, that’s how long Moses spent on Mount Sinai and that how many days there are to stock up on Snickers bars before Halloween. That’s also how long a group of Christian activists plan on protesting outside Planned Parenthood, praying that God will intervene and put an end to abortion (after all, God does not support the killing of babies, except perhaps in the Flood). The “40 Days for Life Campaign” began last night in 238 locations nationwide. Some 50 people from various local churches showed up last night to launch the event.
