Special Projects Archives

BL SPECIAL REPORT: CSAs win war of words as county capitulates and repairs roads

Published 12/26/2019
BenitoLink Reporter, John Chadwell

With over $600,000 in selective reserve accounts and after years of heated debate, county service areas get long-awaited maintenance work.

Collage of Quien Sabe Road holes in Tres Pinos area. Photos by Robert Eliason

BL Special Report: Roads were main focus for Civil Grand Jury

Published 09/15/2019
BenitoLink Reporter, Robert Meiksins

San Benito County Civil Grand Jury submits its report on how funding for roads in the county has been spent. Supervisors have 90 days to respond.

Highway 156 and 25 intersection. Photo by Leslie David.

BL Special Report: The Ins and Outs of Roundabouts

Published 08/06/2019
BenitoLink Reporter, Robert Meiksins

This BL Special Report shares recent research on roundabouts and why they are being used more throughout California. One is planned for the intersection of Highways 25 and 156.

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Diego Ochoa speaks to the public during a 2019 board meeting at which he was introduced as the new superintendent. Photo by John Chadwell.

BL Special Report: Ochoa makes progress on special ed program

Published 07/16/2019
BenitoLink Reporter, John Chadwell

Superintendent speaks on recent reorganization efforts.

Shari Stevenson comes from a family of veterans. She is dedicated to serving all vets in San Benito County. Photo by John Chadwell.

Shari Stevenson fights for vets

Published 05/14/2019
BenitoLink Reporter, John Chadwell

She first became aware of PTSD and Agent Orange as a teen. When her two sons joined the military, she learned what benefits would be available after their service. Now she serves all vets in San Benito County for the Veterans Administration.

Consultant Marilyn Shepherd interviewed teachers, staff and parents to determine what was wrong with HSD's special education program. Photo by John Chadwell.

BL Special Report

BL Special Report: Hollister School District noncompliant with state and federal special ed law

Published 02/10/2019
BenitoLink Reporter, John Chadwell

Consultant cites leadership problems and offers solutions.

In a little over a year of reconciling accounts, Gabriel Moulaison found 175 accounting errors. Photo by John Chadwell.

BL Special Report

BL SPECIAL REPORT: The errors of their ways

Published 12/30/2018
John Chadwell

After years of ignoring discrepancies and using unprofessional accounting practices when dealing with school districts, the county auditor’s office and county office of education are spending about $100,000 to get help with reconciling their books.

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Weeks after her husband died, rather than grant his last wish for his body to be used for cancer research, his remains arrived at their home via Federal Express. Photos by John Chadwell.

BL Special Report

Vietnam vet’s final fight

Published 02/15/2018
BenitoLink Reporter, John Chadwell

After being diagnosed with brain cancer linked to his being exposed to Agent Orange, Raymond Soileau fought to his final breath, but the dioxin finally won, 50 years after he was exposed to it in Thailand.

Raymond Soileau, second from right, served in Thailand for a little over a year and was diagnosed with brain cancer related to Agent Orange. Photo courtesy of Irene Soileau.

BL Special Report

Over 1,500 local veterans file claims with VA for possible Agent Orange illnesses

Published 02/06/2018
John Chadwell

Local veterans who served during Vietnam War are engaged in struggle to obtain medical care and disability payments from VA for illnesses related to exposure to Agent Orange.