News Briefs

Union sues county library system

Union members announced on Feb. 24 that they are filing a lawsuit against the county library system for contract violations because the library system will not reduce the amount of "permatemp" employees on staff.

In a statement, the Service Employees International Union, Local 715, says that county and city officials on the Joint Powers Authority board that oversees the libraries and County Librarian Susan Fuller relies on permatemp employees, who don't have the same benefits as full-time employees.

Candle blamed for blaze in home

Investigators say a candle left burning in an upstairs bedroom was the cause of a blaze that caused about $20,000 worth of damage to a Cupertino home on Feb. 23.

More than 20 firefighters were called to the home on the 1200 block of Primrose Way at about 5:30 p.m., according to Capt. Richard Salazar, and the fire was reported under control about 10 minutes after the first crew arrived at the scene.

A man who was watching television and reading the paper downstairs when the fire broke out escaped unharmed after neighbors alerted him by pounding on the door, Salazar said.

Most of the damage was confined to the upstairs bedroom where the blaze broke out.

"They knocked it down quick and nobody got hurt, so that's a good fire to us," Salazar said.

Second rape suspect surrenders to sheriffs

A second suspect wanted in connection with a 1998 rape case surrendered himself to authorities last week, a sheriff's spokesperson said. Michael Schreifer, 22, of Cupertino, walked into a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department office on the morning of Feb. 22 and turned himself in. As soon as authorities issued an arrest warrant for Schreifer on Feb. 2, the suspect quit his job and moved out of his home. Authorities arrested the first suspect on Feb. 8 in Kansas. Schreifer was arraigned last week and his case has been forwarded to the district attorney's office.

Sheriff's Report

Modern academic pressures are too great

Geriatric care managers assist older people, families with care arrangements

New appointments at Kaiser

Monta Vista's Jarrod Rothman wins wrestling championship

Mustangs, Firebirds to clash in CCS basketball semifinals