A man suspected of driving while intoxicated has been booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter, after a May 28 traffic collision killed 57-year-old Santa Maria resident Lyvelyn Reyes. The suspect, 29-year-old Sergio Chagolla-Chagolla, was allegedly driving while drunk when his vehicle collided with another […]
BRENNA SWANSTON
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Righetti art show, chalk festival coming soon
Ernest Righetti High School will host its 2017 student art show and chalk festival on Wednesday, May 31, and Thursday, June 1, where student artists will showcase more than 1,000 drawings, paintings, photographs, mixed media art pieces, and ceramic pieces. The chalk festival will include works by student teams, crafted on campus sidewalks during the […]
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PG&E donates CPR kits to school district
Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) funded 80 CPR kits for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, where staff will lead CPR trainings for students. In a press release from PG&E, the company said the donation was an effort to curb the “dismal statistic” of those who survive cardiac arrest: Less than one-third of those experiencing […]
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Pioneer Valley student takes home FFA award
Pioneer Valley High School student Steven Cervantes won the agricultural mechanics design and fabrication proficiency state champion award at the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Leadership Conference on May 19. Cervantes’ metalworking career began when he was a child, according to a press release from Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. He started at […]
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Local charter school accused of whistleblower retaliation in lawsuit
Former Olive Grove Charter School (OGCS) teacher Nancy Watson filed a lawsuit on May 18 against the school, claiming she was wrongfully terminated for pointing out the school’s failure to comply with Common Core state standards for kindergarten through eighth grade math classes. Watson’s complaint states that she presented a letter to the Olive Grove […]
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Local Laura’s Law program offers support for high-need residents with mental illnesses
A Santa Barbara County resident is dealing with mental illness and homelessness. She frequents local emergency rooms, to the point where staff there know her by name. She’s had her share of run-ins with law enforcement, as well—police have booked her a couple of times for low-level crimes, like disorderly conduct or urinating in public. […]
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Sun and New Times receive honors from CNPA
The Sun took home nine awards, including three first place prizes, from the California Newspaper Publishers Association’s (CNPA) Better Newspapers Contest on May 20. Winning titles for the Sun went to Staff Writer David Minsky’s photo of Javier Gaona, which placed first in the News Photo category; “Out of the shadows” by Managing Editor Joe […]
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DA charges stabbing suspect with attempted murder
A man who reportedly attempted to stab his parents to death on May 12 has been charged with attempted murder by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, according to court documents. Jhordy Ramirez, 21, is facing felony charges of attempted murder of his mother, Silvia Diaz, with a special allegation of inflicting great bodily […]
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Another panga boat discovered on local beach
A citizen passerby discovered an abandoned 30-foot panga boat on Friday, May 19, 1 mile north of Refugio State Beach, according to Kelly Hoover, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. The fishing vessel, which the Sheriff’s Office suspects was used to traffic drugs, was empty except for a large container holding […]
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Kids’ summer ranch camp kicks off season
Circle V Ranch Camp in the Santa Ynez Valley has begun accepting applications and scholarship requests for its eight 2017 summer sessions, each of which features a different theme. The sessions, which run from the end of June through the end of August, offer outdoor activities such as archery, hiking, swimming, sports, and campfires—along with […]
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Hancock students head to SkillsUSA nationals
Five students from Allan Hancock College will travel to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the SkillsUSA National Championships, which aim to recognize students in trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations education. This year’s national competition, scheduled for June 21 through 23, will mark the second consecutive year in which Hancock is represented at the championships. […]
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Discovery Museum partners with Vandenberg for educational exhibit
The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum has joined forces with the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base to present the Discovery Space Shuttle, which museum and base officials unveiled on May 10. The shuttle will join the Vandenberg Launch Experience science exhibit, which simulates rocket launches using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) […]
