Cover Story
Battling the city: A Lompoc resident fights with code compliance over what he sees as ‘un-American’ treatment of a homeowner
View a slideshow of additional photos. It’s 11 a.m. and Sterling Ranft steps out of a mobile home trailer in his yard and into the daylight, eyes squinting after waking up from a deep slumber. He stuffs a 700-page California Penal Code book into his armpit and cracks open a Miller Genuine Draft tall boy.…
Spotlight on: RDO Water Supply
What company sells automated John Deere tractors, automated irrigation systems, and is the largest potato producer in the United States? It’s North Dakota-based RDO Equipment, which also has a subsidiary branch in Santa Maria. The local company is actually called RDO Water, which mostly specializes in selling, renting, designing, and installing automated irrigation systems. John…
Why are you involved with the Santa Maria Arts Council?
Hattie Stoddard artist with Valley Art Gallery “To represent the visual arts in Santa Maria. We are one of the only groups here that does visual art.” Clare Terrill SM Arts Council president “I came to the Arts Council originally through the Santa Maria Civic Theatre. I was the representative for the theater, and then…
Political Watch 7/30/15
• California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced on July 24 that she plans to review two videos released by anti-abortion activists aimed at discrediting Planned Parenthood’s procedures for providing fetal tissue to researchers, to see if any laws were broken, according to the Associated Press. Harris announced the move in a letter to four Democratic…
Community Notebook 7/30/15 – 8/6/15
MONDAY, AUG. 3 • The Solvang Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. TUESDAY, AUG. 4 • The Vandenberg Village Community Services District has its regular board meeting at 7 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room, 3757 Constellation Road, Vandenberg Village. • The Santa…
Santa Maria takes another stab at the Downtown Specific Plan
Santa Maria’s public library—a big, handsome building that smells like an airport—was built the last time the city tried to re-vamp its downtown. Under an overcast sky still humid with the hangover of mid-July’s freak storm, city officials met with community members on July 22 to discuss the roadmap for the city’s new version of…
Domestic disturbance shuts down block in Santa Maria
One man was arrested in Santa Maria on July 27 during a domestic violence incident that ended up shutting down an entire block for several hours, according to the Santa Maria Police Department. Sgt. Russ Mengel of the SMPD said he couldn’t pinpoint the exact time of the call, but said that police were dispatched…
Incoming Lucia Mar superintendent’s contract released
The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) published the details of incoming Superintendent Raynee Daley’s contract July 24. LMUSD met that night after the Sun went to press to take public input and vote on whether or not to approve the contract. Daley will make $190,000 a year—$20,000 more than outgoing Superintendent Jim Hogeboom, but…
Fifth arrest made in Javier Limon murder case
Arrests in the Javier Limon murder case keep coming. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced on July 24 that detectives arrested 21-year-old Bryan Rios of Santa Maria on suspicion of being the fifth person involved the death of Limon, according to the Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover. The body of 37-year-old Limon was…
Orcutt rapper accused of threats could go to California Supreme Court
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is back at it against Orcutt rapper Anthony Ray Murillo, accused of threatening two sexual assault victims in a song posted on his Reverbnation page. Superior Court Judge Rick Brown upheld a ruling that the song was protected speech in 2014. After a successful appeal, that decision was…
Santa Ynez Chumash expand land holdings with additional 350 acres
As federal bill that could allow the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to annex 1,400 acres of land—also known as Camp 4—is running the gauntlet in Congress, tribal leader Vincent Armenta recently expanded the tribe’s property just a little more. Armenta verified to the Sun that the Santa Ynez Chumash bought an additional plot…
Nipomo dispensary appealed to SLO County Supervisors
Will Nipomo be the home of SLO County’s only brick-and-mortar medical marijuana dispensary? Looks like that decision will be up to the five members of the SLO County Board of Supervisors. Nipomo residents filed an appeal to the county Planning Commission’s July 9 vote to approve a minor use permit for mobile medical marijuana company…
Noah Solis
Street Fighter V (SFV), the latest in an iconic series of fighting games, is still in development. The planned launch is in 2016, and developer Capcom hopes to move more than 2 million units in the first year. Noah Solis, a Lompoc native and genuine Street Fighter prodigy at the ripe old age of 12,…
Cottage Hospital organizes summer sports camp for wheelchair athletes
The athletes came from all over—from Los Angeles and Bakersfield, from Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, and from Santa Barbara as well. For a week, armed with hockey sticks and hand bicycles, they occupied a building on USCB’s campus. “We just kind of invade the rec center,” said program coordinator Rene Van Hoorn. They’re…
DT shuffle
Fallas. Did you shudder? Did you roll your eyes? That word inspired many emotions two summers ago. A discount store. Ooooh. Mayor Alice Patino and City Councilmembers Bob Orach and Willie Green didn’t like that idea. Eeewwwwww, gross, they said (I’m paraphrasing, of course) when it came up in June 2013. Discounts. Nope. Not in…
Say no to rail or create enforceable mitigation
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County shares the deep concerns of many in our community regarding the Phillips 66 rail spur project and the risks to the public that it entails. When deciding on the project, our local officials cannot ignore the tremendous increase in rail accidents, property damage, and deaths…
A marine sanctuary’s the answer to ocean woes
The idea that we need a reason to protect the sanctity of our sea is preposterous. However, allow me to address it if only to humor the detractors, and their benefactors, their biologists, and apologists. The one thing the oil companies, nuclear waste producers, and over-fishing industry does not want is decisive action to be…
Standards of care
The Sun’s July 23 article, “A group accuses contractor of providing substandard medical care to Santa Barbara County inmates,” contains many unfounded allegations regarding Corizon Health, which provides medical care to Santa Barbara County inmates. Regarding the quality of care that Santa Barbara County inmates receive, we pride ourselves on using evidence-based medicine that meets…
Road washout delays Camp Natoma campers
Eighty-seven disappointed campers, including nine campers from the Good Samaritan Shelter in Santa Maria, couldn’t make it to Camp Fire’s Camp Natoma week-long summer camp in July due to unseasonable and extremely heavy rains. The rain washed out a portion of the 3-mile dirt road that leads to camp. “This is the first time camp…
Hancock’s college achievement program gets a funding boost
A program assisting Allan Hancock College students who are the first members in their families to attend college will continue for at least another five years. The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded a $1.1 million federal grant to Allan Hancock College for the TRIO/Student Support Services project, known as the College Achievement Now (CAN)…
Bars of health: Local baker Taino Sweets takes a new direction with Nutri-U
Quinoa, edamame, and dark chocolate have become buzz words in the health food industry appearing on dinner plates increasingly often. They generally don’t appear in candy, but when they do they can make a surprisingly complementary component that satisfies the craving for something sweet. One Santa Maria business is scoring big with its combination of…
Automation nation frustration
I swear on everything that I love and care about in the world that I am not a crazy person. I make this proclamation of sanity because sometimes, in certain situations, I appear completely crazy to the general population. But I assure you, I have all of my mental faculties, and I know the difference…
G. Allan Hancock helped form a music scene in Santa Maria
George Allan Hancock still looms as an impressive figure in the Santa Maria Valley. The multifaceted magnate, whose birthday passed by on July 26, made his fortune in oil, agriculture, aviation, railroading, developing, banking, and other ventures. But Hancock brought more to the Santa Maria Valley than just money and business acumen, explained the Santa…
DANA Cultural Center showcases new exhibit
The DANA Cultural Center announced a new exhibit, titled Rancho Life, currently showing at the historical adobe. The exhibit features photography and more, highlighting local youth involvement in DANA’s active learning programs. More than 1,400 kids from local school districts participated in the program last year. The exhibit will include photography of the docent-led activities…
‘Made in the Santa Maria Valley’ logo design contest still accepting entries
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Commission are accepting entries into the “Made in the Santa Maria Valley” logo design contest. The competition’s open to the entire community and accepts entries through July 31. A winner will be announced on Aug. 25 and a $400 award will be given. Specific…
Cultural art faire at CovenTree Books features music, authors and more
CovenTree Books and Gifts in Santa Maria holds a cultural art faire and open house event on Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will include book signings by local authors, live music, art demonstrations and exhibitions, readings, classes, and discussions. The event also includes a painting exhibit by local artists, crafting…
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County seeking ceramic bowls for fundraiser
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is asking the community for help in providing the namesake of the annual Santa Maria Empty Bowls fundraiser. The event pairs custom ceramic bowls, purchased to take home, with a delicious soup lunch. All the proceeds go back to the Foodbank. Local artists, ceramicists, or groups are encouraged to…
Daytripper: Eating and biking in Monterey equals a great day
Each pedal push and creak of my old-school Italian racer lifts me higher, salt-tinted wind brushes past my cheeks, and the warmth of Pacific Grove’s sunset-lit corner of the Monterey Bay quickly gives way to a motorcycle show on Cannery Row. On a Saturday in July, I’m winding through crowds of tourists who aren’t really…
C Gallery owner Connie Rohde showcases her gesture drawings
The boxy, bright inside of the C Gallery in Los Alamos was already beginning to buzz with the energy of an art opening when owner and currently showing artist Connie Rohde took a break from preparing for the event to chat with the Sun about her show, Plastic Paper. Cheap Brushes. Obsession., which showcases her…
