California’s strawberry production is off to a slow start this year after recent cold weather and rain damaged some of the state’s crops. Southern California’s total strawberry production as of April 14 was down 6 percent from the same time last year, according to shipment data compiled by the California Strawberry Commission, and down nearly […]
Kasey Bubnash
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Youth Sports Comittee holds first meeting
More than 30 youth sports leagues in Santa Maria Valley provide kids with ample athletic opportunities, but rundown fields, overpopulated facilities, and a general lack of communication have become major issues for local coaches. “I think probably it’s the No. 1 thing I hear from the people I represent, is the need for access to […]
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Marcos Hillje-Enthoven
After four years on Orcutt Academy High School’s varsity swim team, breaking numerous school records, and a currently undefeated season, senior Marcos Hillje-Enthoven plans to continue his swimming career at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida, next year. As captain of his team, Hillje-Enthoven often leads meetings and acts as a mentor to younger […]
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Skylar Johnson
Pitching zero runs, two hits, and nine strikeouts in seven innings on April 2, St. Joseph High School sophomore Skylar Johnson helped her softball team snag its first league win in nearly five years. Her phenomenal game came as no surprise to coach John Welch, who said Johnson’s work ethic is second to none. “She […]
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Santa Maria students unite to take on gun violence in schools
It was still spring break for local high school students on the morning of April 5, and while many kids were probably sleeping through one of their last days off, six students were up and at ’em by 9 a.m., busy organizing another march against gun violence. “This time I think we should really stress […]
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Santa Maria City Council further restricts H-2A housing in residential neighborhoods
The Santa Maria City Council unanimously voted on March 20 to temporarily prohibit property owners from housing more than six H-2A guest workers in units located in single-family and medium-density residential zoning districts, effective immediately. Although the recently approved urgency ordinance will expire in early May, Assistant City Attorney Philip Sinco said he expects council […]
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Sheriff’s Office reports uptick in phone scams
Reports of attempted phone scams have significantly increased countywide in the past several weeks, according to a statement released on April 5 by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. “Unfortunately we have an ongoing cycle of scams,” Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover told the Sun, adding that scammers target Santa Barbara County residents off and […]
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FBI investigates hoax threat to schools across county and state
Schools across Santa Barbara County and California received a threatening email on April 9, spurring an FBI investigation into the hoax and its origin. Lompoc Unified School District received the email and reported it to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office at about 9:30 a.m., according to Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover. The […]
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Local advocacy groups call for further pesticide restrictions in honor of Cesar Chavez Day
Lucila Hernandez was pregnant when a crop duster sprayed her and more than 30 other farmworkers with pesticides in the ’90s. Her son, she said, was born ill. “We spent a long time in the hospital, he and I, recovering,” Hernandez, a former Guadalupe farmworker, said through tears at a pesticide reform press conference in […]
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Bicyclist seriously injured in collision with Santa Maria city bus
A 43-year-old bicyclist was seriously injured when she was hit by a Santa Maria city bus just before 6 p.m. on April 2. The Route 7 Santa Maria Area Transit bus was headed west on East McCoy Lane when it collided with the bicyclist near the corner of Caballero Lane, according to Mark van de […]
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Between the shadows: How an unresolved town debate over shade and public funds impacted one of Solvang’s most iconic businesses
A silver Weimaraner followed Lorena Orona as she walked out of the rain and into the warm shelter of her Santa Ynez Valley ranch house, a rental that sits a few miles northeast of Solvang. It was a Friday in mid-March, and while the days-long shower had soaked the drought-stricken hills surrounding her home, it […]
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Jeremiah Anderson
Floor hockey, swimming, basketball—no matter the sport, Lompoc native Jeremiah Anderson is always ready to play hard and work his way to the top. Jeremiah, 31, started competing in the Special Olympics nearly two decades ago, according to Jeremiah’s floor hockey coach and brother, Ronen Anderson. Using his years of experience and athletic versatility, Ronen […]
