As a new year begins, the staff at King City Rustler compiled a few of the top stories that defined the South Monterey County community over the past year. Here’s a brief look at the 2024 Year In Review:
JANUARY 2024
Housing project goes bust
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Shangri-La Industries, the developer of King City’s troubled Project Homekey motel conversion, and the City of King was named as a defendant. The project at a former Days Inn near the Highway 101 entrance was intended to create 45 living units for the city’s unhoused. Lawsuits claimed the company borrowed funds and accepted public monies but didn’t pay its vendors or complete the work. City of King also filed a lawsuit for breach of contract against Shangri-La.
Down on the farm
Roughly 1,400 third graders from South Monterey County schools attended the 2024 South County Farm Day to learn about agriculture and experience animals firsthand. The annual enrichment program, sponsored by Monterey County Agricultural Education, gives an opportunity for youth to become familiar with food production and farming. The Jan. 25 event was held at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City.
FEBRUARY 2024
Chamber awards
King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture honored the 2023 winners of the organization’s business and community awards. This year’s Annual Awards Dinner took place Feb. 17 inside the Orradre Building at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds. The 2023 honorees were Alice Eddington Haskins for Citizen of the Year, Sun Street Centers for Business of the Year, Teri Storelli for Friend of the Community, and Thomas Storelli with the Hermie Robles Youth Award, each of whom were individually recognized during the ceremony.
Trashion Show success
Alliance on Aging’s 2024 Trashion Show in King City was a success, captivating more than 300 attendees with its innovative approach to transforming waste into wearable art. Held at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds on Feb. 22, this unique event showcased the creativity and environmental consciousness of community members by turning discarded materials into stunning fashion pieces.
New fire station
In response to a longstanding need for improved emergency services in rural Southern Monterey County, a new fire station emerged in Lockwood. South Monterey County Fire Protection District’s new station opened its doors to the community, showcasing the state-of-the-art building that spans an impressive 6,000 square feet. The facility, located at 68875 Jolon Road, features a training room, two offices, a kitchen with a living space, a storage room and two furnished rooms.
MARCH 2024
State champs
King City High School boys’ soccer team celebrated their second state championship title win. The Mustangs beat Archie Williams High of San Anselmo 2-0 in the NorCal Division IV Championship game, held at Greenfield High on March 2. This was King City’s second time winning the CIF Northern Regional Championships, following a successful run in the 2021-22 season.
Tragedy strikes party
Four residents were killed and seven others injured following a mass shooting outside a home on Second Street in King City on March 3, and a $20,000 reward was offered to help capture the suspects involved. A prayer vigil for the victims was also held that week. King City Mayor Mike LeBarre condemned the act of violence, calling the murders and mass shooting a “terrible tragedy for our entire community.”
Downtown renovation
City of King’s Downtown Streetscape Project was among this year’s winners of the 22nd Annual Transportation Excellence Awards, presented by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC). The project is a comprehensive placemaking and beautification project on Broadway Street in King City’s core historic downtown area. It included new and expanded corner bulb-outs, decorative crosswalks and reconstructed medians, resulting in a more pedestrian-oriented area that improves safety and access to a revitalized downtown. Landscaping and public art added to the beautification of the area.
APRIL 2024
Claiming the crown
Natalia Merritt was crowned the 2024 Miss Salinas Valley Fair after competing for the title over two days, April 4-5, at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City. Merritt, 17, is a junior at King City High School and the daughter of Jeff and Cory Merritt of King City. She competed against fellow contestant Victoria Sanchez in select categories, including personality and horsemanship, to claim the crown.
Mee Memorial reveals mural
Mee Memorial Healthcare System (MMHS) announced a new mural in King City with artists Paul Richmond and Brenda Scettrini-Saglio, who designed the scene located at 809 Broadway St., facing Canal Street. The mural showcases South Monterey County’s natural beauty and vibrant community, depicting rolling hills, abundant agriculture, native wildflowers and butterflies. The project is a collaboration between the artists, King City in Bloom and King City High School. King City in Bloom volunteers planted native flowering plants beneath the mural in continuance of its theme, and high school students fabricated metal butterfly sculptures to decorate the area.
Funding addresses homeless camps
The County of Monterey was awarded two significant grants under California’s Encampment Resolution Funding program, allocating more than $11 million to address homelessness in King City and Soledad. These grants, totaling more than $6.4 million for King City and $4.7 million for Soledad, will support comprehensive strategies aimed at transitioning individuals experiencing homelessness into stable and secure housing.
MAY 2024
Cracking the case
Three suspects were arrested in connection with the King City mass shooting that killed four residents on March 3 and the double homicide near Soledad that resulted in the deaths of two cousins on Feb. 4, announced local law enforcement. Monterey County Sheriff ’s Office, along with the King City Police Department and the Salinas Police Department, held a joint press conference May 10 to reveal the arrests related to both crimes as well as an armed robbery that took place in Salinas.
Fair time thrills
Nearly 40,000 people attended the 80th Annual Salinas Valley Fair over the course of its four-day celebration in South Monterey County. Under the theme, “Golden Hills & Fair Time Thrills,” the 2024 Fair once again provided family-friendly activities and entertainment May 16-19 across the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City.
Top teacher
Bridgette Berti, an elementary school teacher from King City Arts Magnet School, was honored as the overall Monterey County Teacher of the Year and represented the county in the state competition later that year. Monterey County Office of Education celebrated this year’s Teacher of the Year and Classified School Employee of the Year award recipients at a special event in May. This annual program highlights educators who excel in supporting the education of public school students from preschool through 12th grade.
JUNE 2024
Weekly walks return
King City’s weekly community walks resumed in June, and continued every Thursday evening through the summer and early fall. The community walks, hosted by the City of King in partnership with Blue Zones Project Monterey County, invited the public to meet downtown at the Town Square for a 30-minute walk. The weekly event featured food, giveaway items, music and raffle prizes.
Mural realized
Members and friends of the nonprofit group King City in Bloom gathered June 7 to celebrate the completion of a new mural at 122 N. Second St. The mural, which features Mission San Antonio de Padua, was designed and led by Gloria Sanchez of King City. The mural was financed by individual donors, whose names are listed in bricks on the mural, and a grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County.
Volunteer work honored
Eric and Kim Schmidt of Pine Canyon were honored for the volunteer work they have done to beautify and promote the Salinas Valley Fair in King City. The couple were presented with a Blue Ribbon Award from the Western Fairs Association on behalf of the local fair. The award was presented by Fair CEO Lauren Hamilton and Board President Frank Lopez at a recognition dinner honoring the Salinas Valley Fair’s volunteers.
JULY 2024
Officials shut down lake
Monterey County officials closed Lake San Antonio to visitors, asking all campers to vacate following a mass fish dieoff that county staff first noticed the week prior. State and county experts have not yet figured out why the fish are dying. On July 5, parks employees noticed a large number of dead baitfish, mostly shad, on the shore of Lake San Antonio, located southwest of Bradley in South Monterey County. The county’s Chief of Parks Bryan Flores said fish who live in all depths have been affected, including catfish whose habitat is hundreds of feet deep.
Creative space
Sol Treasures began a rollout of the Hermie Robles Creation Station, a room with technical equipment that can not only be a classroom, but also a creative center for artists, musicians and learners. Aimed mainly for youth, the room’s laptops, equipment and software allow for users to be able to do coding, graphic design, podcasting, digital music, photo editing and other technical production. The room, set up in May, honors former Sol Treasures board director Hermie Robles Medina, who died unexpectedly in December 2021.
AUGUST 2024
La Cocina becomes Blue Zones certified
La Cocina (The Kitchen) in King City was recognized as the first outdoor market in Monterey County to be Blue Zones certified. A ribbon cutting was held Aug. 2 in conjunction with the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture to honor La Cocina becoming a Blue Zones Project Inspired Market. More than 115 people attended the event, marking the vendors’ commitment to provide healthy, plant-based options on their menus.
Crops fall in value
Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo announced the release of the 2023 Annual Crop and Livestock Report, which recorded a production gross value of just over $4.35 billion, reflecting a 6.1% decrease from 2022. The report highlights the impact of various factors on the county’s diverse range of commodities, including market demand, production challenges, labor availability and weather conditions.
SEPTEMBER 2024
Learning together
Students from three classrooms at Santa Lucia Elementary School in King City completed their first month of the Dual Language Immersion program. The new program, launched this school year, teaches students from all backgrounds in a blend of Spanish and English with the goal of having the youth be able to read, write and speak in two languages by the end of their elementary school journey.
Ag leadership
King City High School Agriculture Department was honored with the prestigious California Agricultural Teachers’ Association Outstanding 4-6 Person Department Award, a recognition aimed at promoting exemplary middle and secondary programs in agricultural education. The award celebrates the department’s commitment to providing educational pathways in agriculture, including ag science, horticulture/floral and ag mechanics.
Fort Hunter microgrid
The U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett, under the command of Col. Stephen Trotter, celebrated a landmark achievement Sept. 17 with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new microgrid, a fully renewable energy system designed to bolster the base’s energy resilience and sustainability. The microgrid project, initiated in 2011, makes Fort Hunter Liggett the first Department of Defense installation to operate a microgrid powered entirely by renewable energy.
OCTOBER 2024
Broadband access expands
Spectrum recently launched its internet, mobile, TV and voice services to nearly 100 homes and small businesses in the community of San Lucas in South Monterey County. Earlier this year, the company also introduced services to more than 170 homes and businesses in San Ardo and parts of North Monterey County. The buildout of Spectrum’s newly constructed fiber-optic network in these areas was partly funded by the American Rescue Plan Act broadband grant awarded by the County of Monterey.
Grocery Outlet moves forward
After more than two years of legal challenges, the development of a new Grocery Outlet in King City is moving forward. Initially approved by the City’s Planning Commission, the project at 1023 Broadway St. faced an appeal from UFCW Local 5, citing non-compliance with environmental regulations. On Oct. 21, the Sixth District Court of Appeals issued a decision ruling in favor of the City.
Enrollment rises
Enrollment at the Bradley Union School District, a small, rural school district located in Bradley, about 20 minutes north of Paso Robles, has surged over the past two years. After seeing an enrollment increase last year for the first time in six years, Bradley’s Census Day enrollment rose again this year, marking a 43% growth over the past two years. Notably, this is the first time in 12 years that the school has experienced back-to-back increases in student enrollment on Census Day, a positive sign of continued growth and progress for the school.
NOVEMBER 2024
Transit project secures $25M
More than $1.3 billion in funding was awarded to public transportation projects statewide through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. Among the 27 approved projects, King City will receive $25 million to advance its Multimodal Transit Center Project. King City’s transit project will reintroduce passenger rail service, which last operated in the area in the mid-1940s, with a new Amtrak stop near Pearl Street, east of First Street.
Election shows mixed results
Voters in South Monterey County shaped the future of both local schools and city infrastructure in the Nov. 5 Presidential General Election, with mixed results across the measures. All school district bond measures passed, enabling various districts to address critical facility upgrades and safety improvements. While education funding measures saw broad support, residents in Gonzales and King City shot down two local tax measures intended to support city services. Voters also selected various candidates for city councils, school boards and other elected positions.
Court reopens
Monterey County Superior Court celebrated the expansion of services at the King City Courthouse, marking a significant milestone for South Monterey County residents. The courthouse at 250 Franciscan Way is now open every Tuesday, offering a range of services to the public. The expanded hours include filing windows for traffic payments and filings, as well as court filings in family, restraining order and small claims cases.
DECEMBER 2024
City celebrates newest park
King City’s newest park, located in the Mills Ranch subdivision, opened following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 3. Central Park was constructed by the Mills Ranch developer, Nino Homes, and will be maintained and operated by the City of King.
‘Nutcracker’ turns 65
Monterey County Dance Theatre raised the curtain on its 65th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker Ballet” Dec. 13-15 at the Robert Stanton Theater. Directed and choreographed by Janette Harkness, the daughter of MCDT founder Pauline Hall, the performance carries forward a legacy that began in 1959 when Hall staged the ballet’s first rendition in King City.
