While staring down an estimated $3.6 million deficit for its 2019-21 fiscal years, the city of Lompoc is revisiting a conversation similar to one that City Council and city staff had two years ago. When Lompoc began drafting its budget for the 2017-19 fiscal years, then City Manager Patrick Wiemiller, who left his position in […]
ZAC EZZONE
Posted inNews
City approves road projects funding for next five years
Santa Maria is ready to spend about $26 million from a countywide sales tax measure on road maintenance and improvement projects over the next five years. At its April 16 meeting, the Santa Maria City Council approved a plan to spend this revenue generated through Measure A between fiscal years 2019-20 and 2023-24. Measure […]
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Bomb threat during county meeting under investigation
A planned one-hour break during a county Board of Supervisors’ budget workshop meeting in Santa Barbara was extended by more than an hour after an individual called in a bomb threat on the building where the meeting was taking place. During the noon break of the April 17 meeting, Santa Barbara Police officers notified […]
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Spotlight on: R&R Furniture Outlet
Sunder Rana, owner
After operating a furniture store near Dallas for more than 15 years, Tuluh Rana and his family wanted to grow their company and open additional locations. Feeling the allure of the area’s weather and scenery, the family found a suitable site in the Central Coast. Under a name different from their store in Texas, the […]
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SNAC Culinary Academy event teaches healthy eating amid national, statewide changes to school meals
With opposing national and statewide policy changes recently enacted regarding the food served in public school cafeterias and the drinks served with kids’ meals at restaurants, a local program is holding an event to teach students about healthy eating habits. About 40 students from five 4-H Student Nutrition Advisory Council (SNAC) clubs—four from the Santa […]
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A new county ordinance outlines exemptions, permits for hoop houses
Santa Barbara County farmers have a new ordinance to navigate. It requires a permit to use hoop and shade structures for crop protection, unless growers meet certain exemptions. Almost two years after tasking staff with preparing an ordinance to clarify the permitting process for hoop and shade structures, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors […]
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County outlines efforts to divert mentally ill from jail in 2019-20
Santa Barbara County is looking to address challenges with diverting individuals with mental illnesses out of jail and to a facility where they can receive help. In a presentation during the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ budget workshop meeting on April 15, Barney Melekian, assistant county executive officer for public safety, said that over […]
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City plans law enforcement shooting range at Los Flores
After nearly four years without a shooting range for its police department, the city of Santa Maria plans to start construction on an outdoor range at Los Flores Ranch this summer. The Santa Maria Police Department has been without a shooting range since the department relocated to its new station on Betteravia Road in 2015. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Justin Jones
As a junior at St. Joseph High School, Justin Jones is a dual athlete on the school’s swimming and water polo teams. His coach for both teams, Bianca McNeil, said Jones was part of a successful season for the boys’ water polo team and has broken numerous personal records as a swimmer. McNeil said Jones […]
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County drafting an agreement emphasizing local workers
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors directed county staff to begin developing a countywide community workforce agreement in an attempt to give preference to local workers for public projects, and create an apprenticeship program to increase the wages of low-income workers in the county. Although county staff could not provide the board with the exact […]