College students who graduated from high schools in the Santa Maria Valley area showed up in record numbers on the Allan Hancock College Dean’s Honors List and Special Honors List for the fall 2008 semester, the college announced recently. More than 600 Allan Hancock College students were named to the lists, which recognize students’ academic […]
AMY ASMAN
Allan Hancock College Foundation elects new officials
Earlier this month, the Allan Hancock College Foundation renewed terms for four of its directors, elected two new directors, and elected new officers for 2009. The college announced in a recent press release that members returning for additional terms are Bob Rhodus, Ernest De Gasparis, Joannie Jamieson, and Mario Juarez. The 2009 officers are Joannie […]
DUI checkpoint results in arrests, vehicle impoundments
The Santa Maria Police Department had a busy night on Feb. 20. The department conducted a DUI and drivers license checkpoint in the 1900 block of South Broadway that resulted in several arrests and vehicle impoundments. According to a report from the police, three drivers were evaluated for driving under the influence, one driver was […]
Nipomo agencies put a stop to illegal dumping
The Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) and the local branch of the California Conservation Corps recently worked together to clear an accumulation of illegally dumped appliances, computers, car parts, a travel trailer, trash, and debris from an access road in Nipomo. To help prevent trash from building up there again, locked barricades have been placed […]
Officials secure funds to repair Santa Maria River Levee
Local officials visited Washington, D.C., two weeks ago to secure federal funding for the Santa Maria River Levee, and the trip paid off. On Feb. 23, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) announced that she helped secure almost $6.7 million in federal funding for repairs to the Santa Maria River Levee in the 2009 Omnibus […]
NASA satellite launched from Vandenberg fails to reach orbit
Officials for Vandenberg Air Force Base and NASA said they experienced “an anomaly” on Feb. 24 when a NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellites failed to reach orbit. Launch officials suspect the satellite likely crashed in the ocean off the coast of Antarctica. The Taurus XL rocket carrying the satellite launched successfully from Vandenberg Air Force […]
Local blood banks need more donations
Recent trends in donations have local United Blood Services officials concerned about the health of the local blood supply. Fallout from a down economy—such as layoffs and a cloudy business climate—have forced several businesses to cancel or postpone scheduling blood drives for the month of March. “Based on trends for scheduled drives in March and […]
See the world with the Central Coast Study Abroad Consortium
Current Allan Hancock College students interested in studying in far-off destinations this summer or fall are encouraged to attend an orientation on Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the college’s Santa Maria Campus. Summer programs are open to a limited number of students through the Central Coast Study Abroad Consortium. Participants can go to Spain, […]
Fesler Junior High gets ‘Heart’ smart
On Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, students from Fesler Junior High School’s physical education classes jumped rope to raise money for the American Heart Association. “Junior high students are not too young to make a difference in the lives of others. That’s what our emphasis has always been,” Fesler P.E. teacher Paul Cole said in […]
Righetti High School welcomes Warriors
On Feb. 26, Righetti High School will host its annual 8th grade Warrior Welcome from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the high school gym. The Future Farmers of America will host a barbecue, to be followed by a welcome orientation and clubs and class sessions. Righetti staff members and students will give tours of the […]
Community clock comes to Old Orcutt
Shoppers and diners in Old Town Orcutt will soon be able to tell perfect time from a 17-foot-tall, 1,000-plus pound Orcutt community clock. On Feb. 24, at 5 p.m., locals and Santa Barbara County supervisors Joni Gray and Joe Centeno will watch the clock start to tick. The dedication and tree-planting celebration is at 120 […]
Justice, judgeship, and Jean
Newly appointed Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Jean Dandona always knew she wanted to help people for a living. Unlike her father, Dandona didn’t want to serve in the Air Force, and she didn’t yet feel called to preside over a courtroom. “I actually wanted to be an FBI agent,” Dandona told the Sun […]

