After several months of searching, interviewing, and conducting background checks, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department has selected former KEYT anchor Kelly Hoover as its new public information specialist. Hoover will act as the department’s spokesperson, writing press releases, giving interviews to the press, and more. “I’m very honored and excited to take over the […]
AMY ASMAN
Posted inNews
The new Santa Maria courthouse building is officially open for business
People going to the Santa Maria courthouse to pay a traffic fine, look up a court document, or find out when they’re next due in court will no longer have to cram into a portable trailer in the back parking lot. As of this month, they’ll get to use a brand-new, multi-million dollar facility. At […]
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Students make ‘snow’ for Sandy Hook survivors
A small group of local students and their families recently took some time out of their winter breaks to make decorative snowflakes for the children and staff members of Sandy Hook Elementary School, which was ravaged by a gunman in mid December. Amy Vice Otremba was teaching art to the kindergarteners at Joe Nightingale Elementary […]
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Police make 21 arrests in prostitution sting
Two recent sting operations conducted by the Santa Maria Police Department resulted in the arrest of 21 “johns” for soliciting women for sexual services, the department announced in a press release on Jan. 7. Backed up by a team of detectives and other law enforcement officials, two female undercover officers posed as street-level prostitutes at […]
Posted inNews
Help our county’s homeless find ‘Common Ground’
In several weeks, hundreds of volunteers will be waking up before the crack of dawn to go find and survey the men, women, and sometimes children who live on the streets as part of Common Ground Santa Barbara County’s bi-annual vulnerability index survey and point-in-time count. Launched nationwide in 2011, the survey enables communities to […]
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Interview with the police chief
The Sun sits down with Ralph Martin, Santa Maria’s new police chief
Dec. 18 was an emotional evening in Santa Maria, at least for the 100-plus people crammed into City Council chambers on South McClelland Street. After a turbulent year that included eight officer-involved shootings, law suits, and the retirement of longtime Police Chief Dan Macagni, the city finally got a new leader in retired Los Angeles […]
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Santa Maria City Council meeting: four swearings in–and no appointment made
Santa Maria celebrated a big milestone at its City Council meeting on Dec. 18: the swearing-in of its first woman mayor, Alice Patino. According to a letter to the council from Sister Janet Corcoran that was read aloud during the meeting, the first woman elected to the council was Sadie West in 1930. The second […]
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Busy is an understatement
This year was jam-packed with headline-worthy news
January 2012 was a foreboding month: KCOY/KKFX cut its staff of reporters, producers, and videographers to the bone; two local homeless shelters abruptly closed their doors; and a Santa Maria police officer shot and killed one of his brothers in blue. It’s no wonder, then, that the year that followed included some of the biggest […]
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Hilda Zacarías takes herAllan Hancock College board of trustees seat
Hilda Zacarías—a former Santa Maria City Councilwoman and Allan Hancock College alumna—is now the newest member of the Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees. “I remember back to 1985 when I first returned to Allan Hancock as a young mother. Those 10 years between 1985 and 1995 were built on the foundation I received from […]
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Students for science
Earlier this month, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) presented Allan Hancock College’s SACNAS chapter with its prestigious Role Model Chapter for Outstanding Community Service award at its annual conference in Seattle. The organization promotes networking and mentoring among successful working professionals and students. “We are one of […]
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District attorney says two officer-related shootings were justified
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley released two reports on Dec. 12 that found law enforcement used justifiable force in the unrelated shooting deaths of Jose Ortega on June 28 and Matthew Berg on July 2. According to the DA’s office, the morning of June 28, Santa Maria police officers, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Enter the dragon
PCPA Outreach brings theatrical performances, like ‘The Reluctant Dragon,’ to local schools
Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge a dragon by its fire-breathing roar. That’s the message of The Reluctant Dragon, the play PCPA Theaterfest’s Outreach Tour is currently performing at local schools and libraries. Based on the 1898 children’s story by Kenneth Grahame and adapted by PCPA’s own Roger DeLaurier, The Reluctant […]
