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Hikers, cyclists and horseback riders can learn how to safely interact with cattle and other livestock when encountering these animals on local recreation lands at an Oct. 17 workshop hosted by Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation.The workshop, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon, will be held at Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear County Park in San Martin—one of four county parks where cattle graze on the same property where hikers, cyclists and equestrians enjoy the outdoors.Collectively, such county parks where livestock live host more than 1 million visitors per year, according to county staff. Research from the UC Cooperative Extension notes that negative interactions between livestock and people occasionally occur on these parklands. Such interactions reportedly number less than seven incidents annually.With negative publicity around these incidents, people have expressed their fear of encountering a large animal on a trail, county staff added. The Oct. 17 workshop—conducted by park staff, ranchers and livestock and range management experts—will help park visitors better understand livestock and cattle behavior, and learn proper ways to safely approach cattle on the trail.Since 1992, the county has developed recreation trails on four parks where private ranchers keep their grazing livestock. Mixing these uses reduces the risk of wildfires and helps control invasive weeds such as yellow star thistle, according to county staff. Grazing also benefits some threatened and endangered animals, such as the California red-legged frog and the California tiger salamander. Grazing is also important in protecting habitat for rare species found in serpentine grasslands.Currently, more than 11,000 acres of county parklands are open for grazing, county staff added. Ranchers pay a fair market value to keep their livestock on the properties.

Auto burglaryA thief or thieves pried open the rear doors of a Chevrolet Express van and stole electrician’s tools, police reported. The incident was reported 6:37 a.m. Sept. 17 on the 500 block of San Pedro Avenue.A black Chevrolet Suburban was broken into and purse was stolen from the vehicle parked at 235 Tennant Station Way, according to police reports. The crime was reported 10:02 a.m. Sept. 12. The thief or thieves smashed a rear window of the vehicle to gain entry.Someone smashed the window of a Volkswagen Golf and tried to steal a radio, according to police reports. The crime was reported 6:48 p.m. Sept. 24.Stolen vehicleSomeone stole a 2003 Ford F250 utility truck, according to police reports. The crime was reported 7:48 a.m. Sept. 17.Petty theftA man in his 30s stole diapers from Wal-mart, 170 Cochrane Plaza, police reported. The incident was reported 6:52 p.m. Sept. 13.A thief or thieves stole two wheels and tires from a motorcycle trailer on the 14900 block of Venetian Way, according to police reports. The suspect or suspects replaced the stolen items with an older set of wheels and worn-out tires. The total value of the stolen items is about $575. The crime was reported 4:18 p.m. Sept. 24.FraudSomeone stole a resident’s purse and used her credit card at Chipotle restaurant in Morgan Hill, according to police reports. The thief or thieves charged $21.90 on the card at the restaurant. The crime was reported 3:37 p.m. Sept. 14.TrespassingOn at least three different occasions, a male subject used public computers at the Centennial Recreation Center, 171 W. Edmundson Ave., to look up pornographic websites, according to police reports. The subject has been told by CRC staff not to use the computers for that reason, but he has continued to do so. Following the latest incident, staff asked the subject to leave the property. The crime was reported 2:24 p.m. Sept. 24.

Forgery

Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man on suspicion of murder following an altercation at a Quinceanera in unincorporated Morgan Hill, according to authorities.Deputies responded to a call reporting a fight at a party about 11:14 p.m. Sept. 26, according to Sgt. James Jensen. When police arrived, they located a male victim in his early 30s who had been stabbed multiple times. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.Following the initial investigation, authorities identified and arrested the suspect accused of stabbing the victim, Jensen said. The suspect remains in custody at Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of murder.Jensen declined to release the suspect’s name or the location of the crime due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. He added that detectives do not yet know if the victim and suspect were acquainted before the stabbing.Check back for updates to this developing story.

Officers from the Morgan Hill Police Department arrested an adult male Thursday evening after numerous reports of a suspicious person running around downtown and throwing items into the street, at cars and at people, according to the MHPD Facebook page.

When a woman is faced with an unplanned pregnancy, she experiences a gamut of emotions ranging from excitement to fear and regret. Her support system may be fractured or non-existent, and it’s often up to her, and her alone, to determine if she wants to carry the baby to term, give it up for adoption or terminate the pregnancy.

Patti Lemon sings and plays the keyboards on the porch of a home on Hanna Street during the second annual Porchfest Gilroy on Sept. 19.  The Mariachi Estelar group (below) performs in the street. The singer’s voice was so sweet, many people in the audience were brought to tears, according to one spectator. Richard Simunic and his musical combo sing the blues at 7580 Hanna St.