Dear Readers,

Can you imagine a fifth grader whose behavior is so bad school officials feel they have no choice but to ask a judge to remove him from the entire school district? Well, that's exactly what's happening with a 9-year-old at Carmel River School, who's actually trying to "injure" his classmates and teachers, court documents say. Kelly Nix has our report.

The only way to stop the drownings at Monastery Beach -- eight since 2006 -- is to hire more lifeguards, according to state parks officials. But they say they don't have the money to do it. Chris Counts has that one.

The California Supreme Court will rule on whether the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District can add a fee to everybody's monthly water bill without asking for their approval. Kelly Nix has that story, too.

The Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord got a tremendous boost this week when it received a $1.1 million donation. After outrage about the predicament faced by a family that couldn't get a $250,000 deposit back from a local retirement home, new legislation would make it easier for other people to avoid facing the same dilemma. The coastal commission wouldn't even give the time of day to a Carmel resident trying to stop a neighbor from building a new home. The Mission is starring in a spiffy new car commercial. We have a special section focusing on the accomplishments of local Women in Business. And my editorial expresses the hope that the ghost of Joe Steinfeld is good and buried.

Thank you for your interest in our newspaper. As always, I am available to respond to your questions, comments or concerns, and to offer advice about how best to read The Pine Cone on your computer, smartphone or iPad.

Please don't forget that you can now access the complete 1915-1919 editions of The Pine Cone on our archive page.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

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