San Benito County Local News

The San Benito High softball team enters Saturday’s 1pm Central Coast Section playoff quarterfinal game at Mitty brimming with confidence.  Yes, the Haybalers know they’re up against a formidable opponent which beat them in the season-opener 4-1 on March 1. …

Four high school baseball teams in the Weeklys South Valley coverage area—Christopher, Live Oak, San Benito and Sobrato—found out where they were placed after the Central Coast Section seeding meeting on May 18.  All opening round/quarterfinal games take place Saturday. …

Applications now open for Arts Express Grant Program The San Benito County Arts Council invites local artists, art groups, art and cultural organizations to apply to the 2022 Arts Express Grant Program for general operations and project-based funding for art …

An anonymous $40,000 donation made to Gavilan College recently was also the largest one-time gift it has ever received, according to the college. The check, which arrived in April, was addressed to President/Superintendent Kathleen Rose. The donation seemed at first …

The June 7 election for San Benito County Supervisor for District 1 will determine who will complete the current four-year term, which began in 2020 with the election of Mark Medina. Medina resigned from the board in June 2021, and …

It was a season to remember for the San Benito High boys volleyball team. Not only did the Haybalers win a Central Coast Section playoff match for the first time since 2013, they won an in-season tournament, the silver division …

Hollister resident Bryan Grier won first place in the Major League Fishing Toyota Series’ Clear Lake tournament earlier this year. Grier took home more than $25,000 in winnings from the April 28-30 tournament by bringing five bass to the stage, …

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its approval Monday of the first non-prescription at-home Covid-19 test that also detects the flu.  The test allows users to swab the inside of their nose and send the sample to the test's …

Running for California State Assembly District 29 are Stephanie Castro and incumbent Assemblymember Robert Rivas.  The boundaries for District 29 changed considerably as a result of the 2020 redistricting process. The new district includes all of San Benito County, eastern …

With the Bay Area currently showing the highest Covid-19 infection rates in California, health officers are reminding people of the importance of safety precautions such as continued masking indoors and vaccine boosters. The current wave of infections is fueled by …

For the first time in the history of the Central Coast Section Swim and Dive Championships, para swimming races were incorporated into the event.  This year’s Championships were held at the Santa Clara International Swim Center May 6-7. San Benito …

Ballots are in the mail (some likely already received) for the June 7 primary election. San Benito County’s voters will select candidates for numerous local offices, including sheriff-coroner, three supervisors’ seats and district attorney. Also on the ballot will be …

The elected district attorney is the county’s top prosecutor of criminal cases in San Benito County. The DA leads an office of 17 employees, including five deputy prosecutors and three investigators.  The office and its staff prosecute hundreds of felony …

Running for the office of San Benito County Sheriff-Coroner are incumbent Eric Taylor, who was appointed to the office by the board of supervisors following Darren Thompson’s retirement in 2021; and Juan Guevara. Guevara has more than 10 years of …

As part of a grant from the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, Youth Alliance recently had the opportunity to participate in a visit to Indian Canyon, a ceremonial site for local indigenous people south of Hollister.  Young people were …

The Hollister School District has made significant improvements over the past year with reclassification of English learners and reducing necessary interventions for struggling students.  The district reported eight of 10 schools showed improvements with students moving out of needing academic …

Hollister Municipal Airport is set to become a testing ground for zero-emission aircraft—and perhaps even a hub for hydrogen-electric power research—as an international technology company recently announced its new 19-seat aircraft will be based at the local facility.  ZeroAvia has …

Bill’s Bullpen Baseball Cards & Comics in downtown Hollister gave away more than 2,300 comic books for Free Comic Book Day on May 7. Bill Mifsud, owner of the shop located at 207 Fourth St., has been participating in the …

Jayden Freidt and Jasayla Mariscal knew exactly what they had to do in the Pacific Coast League Masters Track and Field/Central Coast Section Qualifier Meet on May 6 at Gilroy High.  Freidt, a senior on the San Benito boys team, …

The San Benito County Chamber Foundation and Pinnacles National Park are organizing the first-ever virtual Pinnacles National Park Adventure Run.  The public is invited to hike, walk or run anywhere from 5k to 10k throughout the year, with the goal …