California’s Water Resources Control Board recently issued a web-based map that it says can be used as a tool to show which public schools in California have had their drinking water tested for lead. “Our newly developed website allows the public to search the status of lead testing of drinking water at schools in their […]
SPENCER COLE
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Spotlight on: RATP Dev USA
Blaine Rigler, president
There’s a new manager in town for Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT). RATP Dev USA, an international transportation systems company, will manage transportation services in Santa Maria beginning July 1. Santa Maria officials announced they had awarded a contract to RATP Dev on June 7 and said the agreement would run for three years with […]
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Supervisors adopt balanced budget for 2018-19 fiscal year
Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors adopted its recommended budget of $1.1 billion for the 2018-19 fiscal year on June 11, a 2.5 percent increase from last year’s iteration. “The board adopted a balanced budget with no layoffs, few service reductions, replenishment of reserves, and increased maintenance funding, while continuing a commitment to long-standing priorities […]
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Growing pains: From cut flowers to cannabis, Lompoc grapples with its past while eyeing economic opportunity
Dan Vordale’s boots crunch loose dirt and crumpled dead grass as he stomps through a neat row of waist-high flowers. “Ever since we came into this valley, the one flower we’ve grown is called stock,” he says. “It’s a big part of our company’s sales.” Vordale is a vice president for Ocean View Flowers, a […]
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Oxnard’s Chief Financial Officer tapped to manage Lompoc
The search for Lompoc’s new city manager is over. Jim Throop, formerly the chief financial officer for Oxnard, will take over the position vacated by Patrick Wiemiller, who resigned in November 2017 following months of budget deadlock between members of the City Council, two of which called for the review of Wiemiller’s performance on three […]
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County launches cannabis regulation and licensing website
There’s now another resource prospective cannabis business owners in Santa Barbara County can utilize to get their operations up to snuff. The new website, cannabis.countyofsb.org, offers a step-by-step guide to legally running a marijuana-related business, along with maps for zoning and permitting, as well as information on business and state licensing. The site also has […]
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Sheriff Brown leads pack in Santa Barbara County sheriff’s election finances
Sheriff Bill Brown may face a tough challenge in the upcoming June primary election as he squares off against two of his own lieutenants, but in terms of finances, he is coasting to victory. As of May 25, Santa Barbara’s incumbent sheriff had raised more than a quarter million dollars with roughly $93,000 cash on […]
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Fareed far ahead of Woody, still trails Carbajal in campaign money
The June 5 primary election between Justin Fareed and Michael Erin Woody for the Republican side of the ticket for California’s 24th Congressional District is in the final stretch, with the South County’s Fareed far ahead of his opponent. According to the most recent campaign filings, Fareed has raised significantly more than his opponent, with […]
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Greka in spotlight again following ruling, Stoker appointment
A federal judge ordered HVI Cat Canyon Inc., formerly known as Greka Oil and Gas, to pay $2.2 million to Santa Barbara County with interest to cover costs associated with spills at its Santa Maria facilities. The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin in Los Angeles on May 19, and settles at least […]
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Measure for unincorporated county pot taxes passes easily
Santa Barbara County residents voted resoundingly on June 5 to rake in the green, with more than 75 percent of ballots cast tallied in favor of Measure T, or a general tax on marijuana. “With legalization comes needed enforcement, education, and other services,” Supervisor Das Williams stated in favor of the measure. “Santa Barbara County […]
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Spotlight on: Kush Cottage
Mick Buzzwell, owner
A new Atascadero-based company says it has a solution to a lot of issues for small-scale vegetable and flower growing operations. While not specifically designed for it, Kush Cottage‘s custom greenhouses seem to alleviate a lot of issues that come hand-in-hand with growing cannabis. “What we do basically is kind of a newer genre in […]
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Brown blows by challengers
Sheriff Bill Brown will remain at the top of Santa Barbara County’s Sheriff’s Office following a decisive victory in the June 5 primary. As of the Sun’s press time, the incumbent Brown had captured at least 50 percent of total votes, enough to prevent a second contest between him and Lt. Brian Olmstead in the […]