Uncategorized

Attorneys’ opening statements in the trial for the suspected murderer of Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar are scheduled for Jan. 18, according to authorities from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.Antolin Garcia Torres, 23 of Morgan Hill, faces a charge of murder in relation to the disappearance of Sierra, who was 15 when she disappeared from her home the morning of March 16, 2012. Garcia Torres has been in custody at the county jail since his arrest in May 2012.He faces a possible death penalty if convicted of murdering Sierra.Jury selection began in October 2016, and is scheduled to continue Jan. 3 as the defendant and attorneys are scheduled to be in court. Jury selection and the trial will take place at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.Sierra disappeared from her north Morgan Hill home while she was walking to her school bus stop near the intersection of Palm and Dougherty avenues, according to investigators. She was a sophomore at Sobrato High School at the time of her disappearance.Authorities have not found Sierra’s remains, but located some of her belongings—including her cell phone and her handbag containing some of her clothing—in the days after her disappearance was reported. These items were found off the roadsides in neighborhoods near Sierra’s home.Investigators have said they found DNA evidence connecting Garcia Torres to Sierra and her disappearance.In the same trial, Garcia Torres also faces three charges of attempted kidnapping in relation to three incidents in 2009 in two Morgan Hill Safeway parking lots. These charges are unrelated to the Sierra LaMar case.  

As the year winds down, I find myself in a reflective mood. Maybe it is due to hearing renditions of “Auld Lang Syne” everywhere I go. Here at Live Oak Adult Day Services, we welcomed many new seniors this year and we, sadly, have mourned the loss of others. The staff here is often asked how we cope with such loss. Basically, we focus on making each day special for the seniors here, and when they are no longer with us we know that we helped them to feel appreciated while they were part of the program. Those thoughts console us.

Half way up the Wine Trail on Watsonville Road, is Aver Family Vineyards, a hill-top winery with 180-degree views of the Uvas Valley and surrounding vineyards below.

As the whirlwind year of 2016 finally comes to a close, we’ve been witness to an impressive series of monumental happenings in world history, sports, entertainment and of course politics. For those that have been too caught up to make plans to ring in the New Year, here’s a list of local events to raise a glass for “Auld Lang Syne.”

Sobrato showcased its depth of talent and skill as the Bulldogs overcame a slow start against Gilroy to win their hope opener  50-42 on Dec. 21.

BurglaryA thief or thieves cut a lock on a bicycle rack which was attached to the back of the victim’s car and stole a Specialized Enduro street bike worth about $10,000. The crime was reported 9:22 p.m. Dec. 14. Someone stole a white 2016 Lexus and a champagne 2005 Mercedes-Benz. The suspect or suspects stole the vehicles from a resident’s garage, to which they gained entry through an unlocked side door. The crime was reported 8:10 a.m. Dec. 15. Both vehicles were later recovered in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. AccidentA vehicle crashed into a fence in front of Britton Middle School near Main Avenue and Monterey Road. The accident was reported 5:54 a.m. Dec. 15.Petty theftA customer’s iPad was stolen from a table inside a business on the 14700 block of Monterey Road. The theft was reported 4:21 p.m. Dec. 15.A woman stole more than $100 worth of nicotine gum from Target, 1061 Cochrane Road. The crime was reported 8:35 p.m. Dec. 15.Grand theftSomeone stole the wheels and tires off two 2017 Honda Accord vehicles. The crime was reported 9:52 a.m. Dec. 16.FraudA victim’s vehicle was stolen in Gilroy, and the thief or thieves used the victim’s checks to make fraudulent purchases at Staples in Morgan Hill. The crime was reported 4:06 p.m. Dec. 8.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

Local police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who used stolen credit cards to fill up his black pickup truck Dec. 16 at a Chevron gas station, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department’s Facebook page

A 47-year-old Morgan Hill man was charged with four felonies, including attempted murder, for brutally beating his neighbor with a baseball bat during a Dec. 9 altercation, according to the district attorney’s office.