The Santa Barbara County Fair is well known for the big-name acts that grace the Main Stage, and for good reason. The likes of LeAnne Rimes and John Michael Montgomery will be stars of the show on that stage, but it’s not the only one featuring live music at the fair. The Sun Center Stage […]
Joe Payne
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Former Vandenberg airman indicted for traffic fatalities
A former airman with the United States Air Force who served at Vandenberg Air Force Base has been indicted on multiple charges relating to a traffic collision that occurred last summer near Vandenberg that left two dead. A statement from the United States Attorney’s Office named Shaquille Lindsey, 23, of Covington, Ga., as the subject […]
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Financial advisor gets 4 years for wire fraud
A financial planner and owner of a company that manages a Santa Barbara County winery and restaurant was sentenced to four years in prison by a federal judge in a San Antonio, Texas, courtroom on June 27. Charles Banks—founder and former CEO of Terroir Life, a company that manages wineries and restaurants including Qupé and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Temple Beth El features Amaya Rose and friends at July 4 concert
Temple Beth El hosts an Independence Day event each year with live music and food, and for several years, the featured performer has been local fiddle champion and country singer Amaya Rose. Known as a child prodigy with virtuosic ability on the fiddle, and a clear, bright singing voice, it’s been a few years since […]
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Nipomo still under severe water shortage
Nipomo residents must continue to limit their water use because of low groundwater levels, according to a report from the Nipomo Mesa Management Area Technical Group. In April, the group analyzed groundwater levels in several wells in Nipomo, which confirm that Nipomo is still under “severe water shortage conditions,” according to the report. The Mesa’s […]
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Brush fires flare up across Central Coast
Firefighters from Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties responded to several vegetation fires that ignited hillsides across the Central Coast starting on June 23. A 16-acre fire that burned dry brush near the Tanglewood area of the Santa Maria Valley was completely contained by Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Santa Maria Fire Department […]
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County grand jury report questions water agencies’ management of Cachuma Reservoir amid continuing drought
A recent Santa Barbara County grand jury report questioned the efficacy of local water agencies and their ability to collaborate effectively in managing local water supplies. Aimed at addressing ongoing issues exacerbated by the drought, the report said there is “inadequate coordination” among local water purveyors. The report also listed a number of measures to […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
805 Country Music Festival to benefit Band of Brothers
The Central Coast is celebrated for many things, but the level of philanthropy found here is definitely a jewel in the area’s crown. Locals are generous for sure, but they are many other things too, like live music fans. Pairing fundraising and live music was a no-brainer for local country artist JD Hardy, who reached […]
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Santa Maria to appoint new acting police chief
Santa Maria Police Chief Ralph Martin is set to pass on leadership of the department to acting Police Chief Phil Hansen on June 23. Martin was hired as police chief at the end of 2012 after four months as interim chief following a “string of controversial incidents including a number of officer-involved shootings, the tragic […]
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Rock ‘n’ roll power-up: Noe Esquivel shares his guitar covers of video game music
Watch a video of Noe Esquivel in action. For hardcore video gamers, graphics aren’t the only draw to a great game. The music composed for a game has a way of sticking in the ear, like the original Mario Bros. theme, and can be a source of joy even when not button mashing a controller. […]
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Unmarked burial site verified at Mission Santa Ines
The buried remains of hundreds of mission-era people were discovered at the Santa Ines Mission grounds on June 1 after a visit from an Institute for Canine Forensics team. The effort to search the grounds for previously unknown remains was spearheaded by mission archivist Sheila Benedict, who made an educated guess that there were people […]
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Lompoc budget decision delayed
The Lompoc City Council decided at its June 8 meeting to extend budget discussions past June 30 after a lengthy review of the 2017-19 draft budget. The special meeting ended with the unanimous decision to extend the deadline and the city’s current budget operations to Aug. 31, which comes after recent meetings where the city […]