Math students at Delta High School need to raise $10,000 by April 26. It’s money that could upgrade the computers and software they’re using to create their own video game. They need the upgrade to help finish the project, which math teacher Justin Fraser started as an experiment with the purchase of game-making software called […]
Camillia Lanham
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Final phase of levee repairs to finish in 2013
By next winter, Santa Maria residents won’t have to worry about being flood victims anymore—at least not because of the Santa Maria River. The fourth and final section of the Bradley Canyon Levee is scheduled for repair construction to begin in May and finish before the end of the year, said Tawny Tran, the Santa […]
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Murder case judge admonishes attorneys
With 10 suspects clothed in orange or blue and cuffed with padlocks, 10 defense attorneys milling around with nowhere to sit, four sheriff’s deputies, and the metallic echo of voices coming through a too-loud speaker, the Department 9 in Santa Maria courtroom felt small on April 10. The arraignment hearing for suspects allegedly involved in […]
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Citrus are quarantined from Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border
The discovery of the ninth Asian citrus psyllid in Santa Barbara County since last November prompted the California Department of Food and Agriculture to put the county’s citrus trees and fruit under quarantine as of April 8. Three of those teeny bugs were found in a relatively small area near the public library in Santa […]
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Don’t eat the fish
Pesticide-polluted fish in Oso Flaco Lake are only the tip of water-quality issues in Santa Maria
The story of Oso Flaco Lake starts with liquefied fish—as in fish caught via electro-shock and thrown into a blender. The resulting mush is tested for pollutants. These aren’t just any old worth-fishing-for fish; they’re goldfish the size of largemouth bass. And these goldfish have levels of DDT in them that beat out any other […]
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Santa Maria’s FFA students are on a roll
Santa Maria’s Future Farmers of America are racking up awards as they push through state competitions. Pioneer Valley High School students earned FFA honors at the Golden State degree and proficiency award ceremonies on March 24. Students earn FFA degrees through classes, working more than 500 hours, and a record of leadership and community activities. […]
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DA to hold Working with Indigenous Populations conference
The Santa Barbara County district attorney is holding a one-day conference on April 22 to help Santa Marians better understand and learn how to work with the community’s immigrant population. While the forum is geared to assist law enforcement, social service, medical, and educational providers in working with crime victims of indigenous Mixtec immigrants, Terri […]
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Student blood drive has 107 more pints to go
Students at the Santa Barbara Business College set their goal at 125 pints of blood for a series of blood drives celebrating the college’s 125th year. The college was able to collect 18 pints of blood with the help of United Blood Services of the Central Coast at its first drive on April 4. The […]
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Los Padres land-use designations up for review
Four national forests are taking public comment on a management plan responding to a 2009 lawsuit settlement
Forest management is complicated. There are off highway vehicle users to consider. And environmental advocates. And land-use contracts, horseback riders, backpackers, and resource development revenue. The list goes on and on. When coming up with a land-management plan, the Forest Service has to take the opinion of every one of its users and all of […]
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Former county employee pleads guilty to misusing public money
The former general manager of the Santa Barbara County Mosquito and Vector Management District, Brian Passaro, pled guilty to a felony charge of misappropriation of public funds on April 5, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office. Deputy District Attorney Brian Cota said Passaro was allegedly using a county-issued credit card for more […]
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Plover violations are up with the Surf Beach docent program
Since the start of western snowy plover nesting season on March 1, Surf Beach has recorded 30 violations for people found venturing into the closed-off areas of the beach. When that number hits 50, Vandenberg Air Force Base will be forced to close the beach to public access. “We’ve seen increasing violations over the last […]
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Seller’s market
A shortage of inventory in the Central Coast housing market is causing prices to creep up
You might sell your house almost as soon as you list it. Or you might not get the house you made an offer on. Regardless of which side of the buyer/seller line you stand on, one thing is certain: People are in the buying mood. As long as a seller’s price-point is reasonable, he or […]
