Category Archives: Off Topic

First Recreation Trail Stabbing Of The Year

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About 11:25 p.m., a 31-year-old man was walking on the trail near the Naval Postgraduate School when he encountered Robert Cepeda, 33, of Marina and the men began to argue, said Monterey Lt. Leslie Sonné.

When the fight escalated, Cepeda stabbed the 31-year-old, whose identity is not being released because of federal privacy laws, Sonné said.

About five minutes after they were called, officers found Cepeda on the trail at the edge of city limits near Roberts Lake. He was in possession of a knife that matched the description of the weapon used in the fight, Sonné said.

Dangerous place at night. Stay away.

First Recreation Trail Stabbing Of The Year

El Estero Car Wash Gives Away Customer’s Car

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On May 6, a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Pacific Grove woman took her beloved blue BMW to El Estero Hand Car Wash for a spring cleaning. Watching the process from the video screen in the lobby, she saw the attendant put a final shine to her rearview mirror and started walking outside to drive it away.

And then someone beat her to it. An unknown man with a receding hairline and a big grin on his pale face jumped into the car like he owned it and floored it out the driveway.

“The guy just, bam, beelined, gave it gas and he was out of there,” said a still-incredulous Harmell.

It really is too easy. The attendants don’t check receipts, they hold the door open and let you in any car.

El Estero Car Wash Gives Away Customer’s Car

KPIG DJ Laura Ellen Dies From Cancer At 57

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Laura Ellen brought back the KFAT sound to Pacific Grove’s KOCN before starting KPIG.

Laura Ellen Kpig Sty

Laura Ellen Hopper, the longtime program director and co-founder of KPIG 107.5 FM, died Monday from complications of lung cancer. She was 57.

Hopper of Royal Oaks was widely known to fans of KPIG as the mellow midday disc jockey who loved to champion emerging country/folk singer/songwriters, but she also was largely responsible for shaping both the sound and the public image of one of California’s most idiosyncratic and beloved radio stations.

Another local hero has passed. . .

Article from Santa Cruz Sentinel

KPIG DJ Laura Ellen Dies From Cancer At 57

Peace Kooks Caught With Stolen Property

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Marina City Councilman Dave McCall was mighty surprised when he learned a long-missing campaign sign from his November 2006 re-election race was spotted last weekend on a street corner in Monterey.

He was concerned enough about the company being kept by the 2-by-4-foot red, white and blue placard to interrupt a pleasant Sunday afternoon and zoom down to Window on the Bay Park.

McCall bolted from his car, grabbed his sign, checked for any other campaign signs and started to leave. One male protester grabbed him for a moment.

McCall, who has his sights set on a run for Marina mayor next year, thought the last thing he needed was a confrontation in the middle of this scene. He whipped out his ID and the protester relented. McCall went home and called police to report the incident, just to keep his bases covered.

“It’s irritating, why someone would take my sign … or try to ruin my credibility using my sign in that situation,” McCall said later. “I just wanted to handle it calmly.”

Cowards Protest

Peace Kooks Caught With Stolen Property

Art Galleries Attracting Crime?

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Three Eastern Europeans from Sacramento took a $40,000 painting from a San Carlos Street gallery Monday and then returned late that night to break in and steal more artwork, according to Carmel Police Sgt. John Nyunt.

But it was officer Rachelle Lightfoot, responding alone to an alarm at Simic New Renaissance Galleries just before midnight May 7, who captured two of the burglars at gunpoint.

“Officer Lightfoot found these individuals setting up to break into Simic gallery,” Nyunt said. After padding the glass in the gallery’s front door with newspaper to deaden the noise as they broke it, the burglars struck the glass with an unknown object. . .

Russian Men Theft Of Artwork

When a shop sold hardware, shoes or magazines no one would think of making a big get away robbing them. But when the goods are “valuable” art, all kinds of riff raff come out to visit. Are more art galleries really what we want all over town?

Art Galleries Attracting Crime?

High Gas Costs Won’t Detour Tourists

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“Naturally people are always concerned, but Californians continue to travel despite an increase in fuel prices,” said John McMahon, president of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re keeping an eye on it, but we’re not alarmed by it.”

“The last time we saw a price increase, we were nervous about it, but we didn’t see an impact like we feared,” McMahon said. “Being that most visitors live within 150 miles, it’s not going to be a dramatic effect.”

Darn.

Lighthouse Av strip

High Gas Costs Won’t Detour Tourists

Naked Woman Escapes With Police Car

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Watsonville police officers responded about 6:30 a.m. to a complaint of a man and woman arguing in their home on Miles Lane. While an officer was talking to the person who called to complain, Lisa Isidro fled from the house without any clothes, police said.

Another officer tried to detain Isidro, using chemical spray to subdue her. Instead, she jumped into a police car and tried to run over the officer, police said.

Naked Woman Escapes With Police Car

Turn That @#$% Down, Part 2

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Police said a car occupied by Hector Cervantes, 26, and David Gonzales, 22, was stopped at Madrid and North Main streets at 6:15 p.m. because of loud music coming from their vehicle and for having illegally tinted windows.

Gonzales, police said, is on probation and a probation search of the car yielded a loaded .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol concealed in the center console.

Turn That @#$% Down, Part 2

R.J. Waldsmith Opposed To Safety Enforcement?

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We are old farts, but my wife got a $200 ticket (first one in 15 years). She was bringing our 7 year old home from school. She drives very slowly. But coming down a slight grade, her speed went up to 37 or 38 mph. The ticket said approximately 40 in a 25 mph zone. I think The Pine Cone, which has page after page of police reports, should find out the true motivation for this unnecessary and unfair enforcement.

Ehhh, the true motivation is to make the roads safe. Pay the ticket and slow down next time.

R.J. Waldsmith Opposed To Safety Enforcement?

Monterey Massage Parlor Busted

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The fate of a Monterey massage parlor, where masseuses allegedly offered sex along with their shiatsu massage and body shampoos, lies in the hands of the City Council this evening.

V.I.P. Massage, located at 580 Casanova Ave., faces the loss of its license after a masseuse offered to perform a range of sex acts on a Monterey police officer during an undercover sting in October, according to police reports.

During the bust, police said they also found a masseuse practicing without a license and alcohol being served illegally, their reports said.

Would not be notable here except must note the name of the shop owner, Un Suk Zipperer.

Monterey Massage Parlor Busted