A much-needed infusion of funding from the state Legislature will allow the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s and Probation departments to hire more staff members and revert the Santa Maria Jail back into an overnight holding facility. The almost $4 million in Public Safety Realignment Act funds will help county law enforcement expand services to accommodate […]
AMY ASMAN
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In the dog house
The down economy is causing animals to suffer, too
Jack is a 9-year-old terrier-Corgi mix with floppy brown ears and a giant pink tongue. In human years, he’d be a member of the Baby Boomer generation. Ideally, that’s the time when a person—or family pet, for that matter—should get to retire from the hectic buzz of the working world, pull up a big comfy […]
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Know your status
A recent increase in HIV/AIDS cases has health workers encouraging people to get tested
I offered to get tested for HIV/AIDS as part of this article because I thought it would be a good way to inform people about the virus and hopefully dispel some of the myths about—and stigma surrounding—testing. I was also highly confident in my status. I’d never been tested before, but I was 100 percent […]
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City and county officials are trying to stop construction of a roundabout in Lompoc
The mayor of Lompoc has launched a letter-writing campaign against construction of a Caltrans-approved traffic roundabout planned for Highway 246 on the city’s outskirts. In a recent interview with the Sun, Mayor John Linn said he was shocked Caltrans officials chose to move forward with the project. “It’s pretty heinous,” Linn said of the roundabout. […]
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A new military, a new day?
Local veterans and active duty personnel reflect on the upcoming repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
On Sept. 20, the U.S. military will officially end its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The repeal has already started to happen locally. A media representative for Vandenberg Air Force Base said all individuals required to get training at the base have done so. “The training consisted of informing personnel of the policy change and […]
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Orcutt Academy students are recognized for academic achievement
Officials at Orcutt Academy High School recently announced the College Board has named some of the school’s students Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars. Exams are conducted every May for students in AP classes. Many colleges and universities award credits to incoming freshmen who scored a three or higher on the tests. AP Scholars at Orcutt Academy—students […]
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Bullying is officially against the law
Earlier this month, the California State Senate approved Seth’s Law (AB 9), legislation designed to address the pervasive problem of school bullying. The bill is named in memory of Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old gay student from Tehachapi who took his life in September 2010 after facing relentless harassment at school. Once it’s enacted, the bill […]
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Have fun–and even learn something–after school!
Need a safe place to send your kids after they get out of class for the day? The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is encouraging families to sign up for its Fun, Recreation, Education, and Enrichment (F.R.E.E.) After School Program, offered to children ages 6 to 12. It’s designed to provide recreation and enrichment […]
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Local man threatens his family with a knife, and attacks police
Some Santa Maria police officers had an unusual encounter with a local resident the morning of Sept. 11. According to a press release from the department, officers responded to a distress call around 10:25 a.m. in the 1100 block of West Robert Lane to find an “out-of-control adult” brandishing a 12-inch straight blade knife at […]
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Nicholas Bendle pleads guilty to murder
On Sept. 8, Santa Maria resident Nicholas Bendle, 22, pleaded guilty to murdering 68-year-old Frederick Holgate. The case has received national attention because of the brutal way Holgate died: On Aug. 1, 2009, Bendle attacked Holgate with a hatchet while the elderly man was going for a morning walk near his Santa Maria home. The […]
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St. Joe students are recognized as AP scholars
Any student who’s ever taken an Advanced Placement (AP) class knows that the coursework is often challenging and time consuming. Studying for the AP exams isn’t a picnic either. That’s why St. Joseph High School is pleased to announce its 2011 AP scholars. Each May, AP exams are administered to St. Joseph High School students […]
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Help clean the Central Coast’s beaches and waterways
It’s that time of year again: On Sept. 17, Californians will join hundreds of thousands of participants worldwide in clearing trash and debris from beaches and other waterways as part of the annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Last year, 1,300 local volunteers cleared nearly 5,110 pounds of debris from 28 Santa Barbara County beaches and creeks. […]
