The news this week almost made me want to set down my feather pen and bury my head in the sand, à la my long-legged cousins.
A Vandenberg Space Force Base airman died on base after the heavy equipment he was operating fell down an embankment. Airman 1st Class Cedric Eneluna was 23 years old.
The 30th Civil Engineer Squadron’s commander, Lt. Col. Seth Poulsen, said in a statement that Eneluna brought out the best in everyone.
“He was always ready to work, always willing to help, and always had a positive attitude,” Poulsen said. “He truly represented what it means to be an airman.”
No accident like this has happened at Vandenberg in about 50 years.
Another tragic accident from almost two years ago is being treated as murder. This one really gets me down because, in the words of Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch, “it’s [a] horrible instance of a purely preventable and absolutely senseless crime.”
In September 2024, an intoxicated driver, Santa Maria resident Kendra Lynn Cordova, was seen weaving between oncoming cars at 90 miles per hour near Los Alamos.
“Cordova sped down Highway 101 in the wrong direction for approximately 14 miles, despite headlights approaching her,” CHP Officer Jason Traughber wrote in his declaration to the court.
“Approximately 15 witnesses called to report Cordova driving the wrong way on the 101, … just prior to crashing,” he continued, “and killing Alma Lazaro.”
Cordova’s blood alcohol level was .26 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.
She initially pled not guilty to second degree murder, but after the court process played out, she pled guilty and now faces 15 years to life.
News in Lompoc perked me up a little. I can’t resist a good dressing-down.
Lompoc City Manager Dean Albro was briefly on the chopping block, facing discipline and dismissal on July 14. The City Council discussed his performance review in closed session that day—he got a “satisfactory” review—and council members’ lips were sealed when they got an earful from the community about the issue.
A certain former mayor got particularly spicy.
Jenelle Osborne addressed her comments to Mayor Jim Mosby specifically:
“When I left that dais nearly two years ago, I handed you a successful community led by a very competent city manager. And I asked you not to fuck it up. And in less than eight months, you’ve slid downhill and you’re doing that with your behavior tonight,” Osborne said. “I know most of you work well with Dean. Most of you respect him. Most of you don’t think this is the right thing to do. So, I’m here to remind you that this is a pattern of behavior by the current mayor.
“Every time that he’s been on this dais, he has had a desire to fire a city manager,” Osborne continued. “He’s made life unbearable for … the person in that position.”
She would know. She had to work with the guy on more than one iteration of the City Council. m
The Canary’s head is not in the sand. Send beach reads to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in July 23 – July 30, 2026.
