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AJ Gustaveson ran for 204 yards and Jonathan Singleton threw for five touchdowns as Live Oak smashed its way past Leigh 49-13 last week.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to smoke from the fires in the North Bay, Saturday's game could be affected. It is unclear if conditions prove to be unhealthy if the game will be postponed or moved. That decision will be made closer to Saturday, according to coach Tony Holmes. As of Thursday morning, plans are to have the game proceed as normal, but conditions will be watched closely.

Late-night jackhammering and rumbling of diesel engines, decimation of mature oak trees, an even more sluggish daytime commute—these are some of the impacts voiced by local residents about heavy-duty road construction projects underway throughout Morgan Hill.These ongoing efforts include the “South Monterey Road Repaving project” from the southern edge of downtown all the way to West Middle Avenue (about 2.5 miles); installation of a new traffic signal and reconfiguration of the intersection at Monterey and Old Monterey roads north of town; reconstruction of San Pedro Avenue between Monterey Road and Church Street; and the DeWitt Avenue “S-Curve Realignment Project.”Completion of the more than 15 infrastructure and private development projects in the city is expected to contribute to smoother vehicle rides, safer neighborhoods and better overall traffic flow, according to city staff.Some of the projects are being completed by contractors associated with private residential developments, such as the Monterey/Old Monterey intersection and San Pedro Avenue. Others, such as the Monterey Road repaving project, have long been on the city’s list of needed public works upgrades.The city typically tries to coordinate road construction projects “to minimize the impact to the greatest number of residents, businesses and visitors,” said Morgan Hill Communications Manager Maureen Tobin.Sometimes, however, that’s not possible, and crews are scrambling to complete the current roadwork before the winter rains can delay them even more, she said.“All of these roadway improvements will increase motorist safety and decrease wear and tear on motorist vehicles,” Tobin added. “Each of these roadways were in poor condition, so the improvements should be noticed by all.” Furthermore, the upgraded roadways will not require as much ongoing maintenance as the previous driving surfaces, Tobin said.Some residents’ patience is being tested as the multitude of projects wreaks havoc on morning and afternoon commutes, and even short trips across town. In the case of the Monterey/Old Monterey intersection, longtime Morgan Hill resident Richard Vanella thinks the new configuration will only make matters worse.For months, Vanella’s complaints have fallen on deaf ears at city hall and among county and state transportation officials he has contacted, he told the Times.For starters, the new intersection is poorly designed, Vanella contends, as it moves the traffic signal only about 75 feet south to make way for a portion of the new 76-unit Solera Ranch subdivision, under construction by City Ventures. Vanella thinks the new traffic signal should have been aligned another 200 feet south on Monterey Road, with Old Monterey routed along the front of still-vacant properties up to a stand of tall trees.Thus, the new intersection will do nothing to alleviate traffic through the Monterey Road corridor, with dozens of other new homes under construction on other properties in north Morgan Hill, Vanella said.“The new intersection creates a danger, since drivers coming down Old Monterey can’t see the new street until they’re about to cross it, and drivers turning onto Old Monterey from the new street can’t see far enough up the street to make a right turn, then cross to the left turn lanes safely,” Vanella wrote in an Aug. 11 email to CalTrans.Furthermore, Vanella complains the city allowed the developer to remove scores of vibrant, mature live oak trees—including a landmark grove that abutted the edge of the old intersection.“The important thing about live oak trees is they don’t lose their leaves, cleaning the air year-round,” Vanella said. “We’re increasing global warming (by removing the mature trees).”And Vanella can’t fathom why the grove on the edge of the old intersection was even removed, other than to make way for more new homes.The developer has included replanting of new young trees in the site plans, according to city planning documents.Old Monterey Road is closed from Monterey to Llagas at least until the end of this week, as the developer completes the traffic signal, according to the city’s website. Until then, traffic is rerouted to Wright and Hale avenues.The construction has generated a wealth of comments on social media from anxious commuters upset that the work is snarling traffic.Monterey Road repaving almost doneThe Morgan Hill Police Department has received numerous calls late at night in recent weeks complaining about loud construction noises on Monterey Road south of town.This work is associated with the repaving of the 2.5-mile stretch of one of the city’s busiest roads. Contractors have mostly completed the heavy construction by working in the late night and early morning hours.Most of the intensive repaving is done, with restriping and installing new traffic signal loops scheduled for the coming week, according to the city’s website.All work on that project is expected to be complete by Oct. 26.The city hired contractor Granite Construction to complete the repaving, at a cost of about $2.5 million, according to Morgan Hill Deputy Director of Engineering Scott Creer.Other projectsOne block of San Pedro Avenue—from Church Street to Monterey Road—has been closed for extensive road improvements since early this summer. Tobin said the developer expects to finish this project the week of Oct. 16.The developer of The Commons subdivision on the corner of Church and San Pedro is performing this work.In the downtown, Frank Leal, developer of the Granada Hotel on Monterey Road, and his crews have been busy this week installing new storm drain infrastructure on Second Street. This ongoing project has resulted in closures of East Second Street.And on the west side of Morgan Hill, in Santa Clara County’s jurisdiction, a key section of DeWitt Avenue remains closed for the realignment of a dangerous “S-curve.” This stretch of roadway, from Origilia Lane to Spring Avenue, will remain closed until Thanksgiving, according to the city website.Other road and construction projects throughout town include three new downtown parks, Hale Avenue extension line planning, four residential/commercial projects downtown, new signal at Fourth Street and Monterey Road, sidewalk improvements at Third Street and Monterey Road and others which are listed on the city’s website, morganhill.ca.gov.

Morgan Hill police are asking residents in the area of Olympic Drive for any home security camera footage that might have captured images of a drive-by shooting the evening of Oct. 7.About 7:45pm, police received multiple calls of shots fired in the residential area behind the Morgan Hill Community Park, on Olympic Drive in the area of Denali Drive, according to police reports.Officers arrived to investigate the shots, and determined that no injuries or property damage occurred as a result of the shooting, according to police. Witnesses reported hearing 8 or 9 gunshots, fired by an occupant of a small silver sedan.The suspicious vehicle fled the scene before officers arrived, and police have not identified any suspects.Shortly after responding to the call of shots fired, MHPD posted on Facebook that officers were canvassing the area for any home cameras that are facing the roadway. Any resident with such camera footage that may be of assistance can contact MHPD Det. Scott Purvis at [email protected].

Sobrato took advantage of Overfelt’s turnovers and miscues in a 61-34 rout to stay undefeated in West Valley Division play.

Petty theftSomeone stole a ladder from a commercial business on the 200 block of West Main Avenue. The theft was reported 3:28 p.m. Sept. 26.A thief or thieves stole the tags from a license plate on a vehicle parked on Barrett Avenue. The theft was reported 1:33 p.m. Sept. 25.A teenager stole beer and vodka from Safeway, 235 Tennant Station. The theft was reported 12:43 p.m. Sept. 20.Someone stole a license plate from a vehicle parked on the 200 block of West Main Avenue. The plate was later found in Milpitas. The theft was reported 2:24 p.m. Sept. 19.DisturbanceTwo customers at Rosy’s At The Beach restaurant, 17320 Monterey Road, became upset because their table was not ready, and threw a plastic water bottle at another customer. The disturbance was reported 7:42 p.m. Sept. 26.A witness picked up a juvenile male who was being chased and threatened by a group of teens who were throwing rocks at him in the area of Hale and West Main avenues. The witness drove the victim a few blocks away, when the child got out of the vehicle and went home with his brother. The disturbance was reported 9:31 p.m. Sept. 15.Accident, DUIA male driver crashed a vehicle into a tree and a fire hydrant on Madrone Parkway, but no one was in the vehicle when witnesses and police checked the scene. Police searched the area and later located a man on foot in the nearby business park, who officers determined was the driver who crashed into the tree and hydrant. The man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The accident was reported 1:07 a.m. Sept. 24. Stolen vehicleSomeone stole a Penske truck from Executive Inn & Suites on Condit Road. The theft was reported 8:23 a.m. Sept. 24.A white GMC Sierra pickup stolen out of San Jose was recovered on Longview Drive in Morgan Hill. The vehicle was reported recovered 9:13 a.m. Sept. 24.Patrol checkA witness called to report three middle aged men on bicycles hanging out on LaCrosse Drive—one asleep against a tree, one lying on a picnic bench and one standing next to the bench. The witness heard one of the men say, “Man, that was some good dope.” The incident was reported 10:45 a.m. Sept. 24.Drunk in publicA man in his 40s was passed out in the elevator in the downtown parking garage, 50 East Third Street. The man was transported to Saint Louise Regional Hospital and later released with a citation for public drunkenness. The incident was reported 9:47 a.m. Sept. 25.Auto burglarySomeone broke into a white Dodge Charger on the 16500 block of Monterey Road and stole a wallet, checkbook and credit cards. The break-in was reported 7:33 a.m. Sept. 22, and the victim thinks the crime occurred overnight the previous night.BurglaryA thief or thieves broke into a storage shed behind Forbes Grill restaurant, 18599 Sutter Blvd. The crime was reported 11:17 a.m. Sept. 22.Someone smashed the window of Las Delicias Ice Cream & Botanitas, 16999 Monterey Road, and stole a cash register box that contained an unknown amount of cash. The crime was reported 11:10 a.m. Sept. 16.Municipal code violationSomeone repeatedly dumped trash outside the Masonic Lodge located at 380 West Dunne Ave. The crime was reported 1:08 p.m. Sept. 22.Grand theftA thief or thieves stole the tires and rims off two vehicles parked on Laurel Road. The crime was reported 9:49 a.m. Sept. 20.TheftSomeone stole a pet cat from a residence on La Selva Drive. The theft was reported 6:46 p.m. Sept. 16.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

Their records are on the wall. Championships they helped to win hang from the rafters of the gym. Their photos sit in display cases reserved for the past greats. Some are even immortalized in a hall of fame.

Despite some recent delays, downtown Morgan Hill continues to proceed toward city officials’ long-term vision as the most visitor-friendly, pedestrian-safe, transit oriented neighborhood in town.At least five new restaurants, three high-density residential projects, a boutique hotel and a handful of retail establishments are projected to be complete at various times within the next two years, according to city staff and developers. On top of that, three new public parks—sponsored by city funds—are nearing completion that will provide more casual recreational choices.At the intersection of Third Street and Monterey Road—considered by many city officials as the center of downtown—last winter’s rains significantly delayed the construction of four new restaurants, according to Morgan Hill Economic Development Manager Edith Ramirez. The restaurants are now projected to be complete by January 2018.Developers Ken Rodrigues and Don Imwalle acquired the property, formerly the site of Simple Beverages, from the city in 2016, through the Redevelopment Agency liquidation process that started in 2012. The developer struck a deal with the Opa! Group of restaurants to bring its four signature joints into two new structures on the property: Opa, a Greek restaurant; Mo’s…the Breakfast & Burger Joint; Willard Hicks (steaks and American food); and Tac-Oh!, the group’s fledgling “designer Mexican food.”The exterior of the two new buildings—about 5,600 and 6,425 square feet, respectively—currently looms over the busy intersection of Monterey Road and Third Street.Up the street on Monterey Road is the former site of the Downtown Mall, which was demolished by hospitality development guru Frank Leal in late 2016. Leal, who developed the next-door Granada Theater and remodeled it into a happening dinner theater and events venue last year, hopes to have the hotel complete by the fall of 2019, he said earlier this week.“Just waiting on some final kitchen design and elevator design,” Leal replied to an email from the Times.The four-story Granada Hotel—a “boutique” lodging accommodation—will consist of a steakhouse, floral shop, market hall and lobby with a wine bar on the first floor. The second floor will house conference and banquet space, a pool and spa. The third and fourth floor will each house 30 guest rooms.Leal acquired these properties from the city, also through the RDA wind-down process.Back on the other side of Monterey Road, at Second Street, the Edes Gallery project proposed by restaurateur Dan McCranie—owner of Ladera Grill just a block away—has also been delayed, but the developer is determined to wait until things are just right before beginning construction.“There’s a couple issues—I think they’re solvable, but they’re important to me,” McCranie said of his back-and-forth approval process with city staff. “It’s a small footprint, and there’s a lot of things going on, and I need to have it as efficient as possible.”McCranie declined to say exactly what was holding up the project, but he doesn’t expect it to affect his vision for the site. The three-story project will include a ground-floor art gallery and wine bar, with more gallery space on the second floor and a restaurant with rooftop dining on the third floor. He is now hoping to start construction before this coming winter.On the east side of downtown, the Sunsweet project with frontage on Third, Depot and Fourth streets is undergoing a “second construction plan check” by city staff, Ramirez said. This four-story development includes 83 residential units, with an outdoor plaza and office and retail components. Morgan Hill residents Rocke and Glenda Garcia are the developers of that site.Another former RDA property—previously the site of the BookSmart shopping center—is also under development on Depot Street, between Second and Third streets. The developer, City Ventures, is planning to build a 29-unit housing project with 8,500 square feet of condominium/retail space facing Third Street.Earth moving crews have been active at the site recently, and Ramirez said the project is currently “under construction.”New parks under constructionResidents and visitors should be able to enjoy three new downtown parks by the end of November, Ramirez said. Construction crews have also been active at these sites throughout the summer.The parks are located on Depot Street, just across from the Third Street intersection with a wide variety of play equipment scattered throughout the site that sits along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks; The Hilltop Park and Trail, at the top of the hill at the end of West Third Street; and the Creek Park, located on a small, quiet stretch of West Little Llagas Creek on the west side of downtown, between Second and Third streets.All of the downtown projects are part of the city’s $25-million-plus plan to revitalize the neighborhood, funded largely by leftover RDA monies. Previous projects include the downtown garage, various street resurfacing efforts on Monterey Road and side streets, utility undergrounding and other improvements.

As he had quite a bit during the game, Jonathan Singleton was scrambling for his life.