Rep. Elton Gallegly, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties’ Republican congressman for the past 25 years, will be calling it quits at the end of the current Congressional session. According to his office, Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) informed a gathering of friends and family of his decision to not run for re-election on Jan. 6, calling his […]
Gallegly chooses retirement, and Blakeslee is considering his options
Posted inNews
Santa Maria-Bonita officials say all school buildings are safe
Government watchdog and investigative website CaliforniaWatch.org recently released a report alleging “unresolved safety issues” at schools throughout the state, including some in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. From 2000 to 2005, the now bankrupt contracting firm TurnKey managed more than a dozen projects for the district, worth approximately $62 million. The California Watch report cites […]
Posted inNews
Local KCOY/FOX affiliate downsizes its staff and changes evening news segments
Citing “tough economic times,” management at KCOY 11 and FOX 12 laid off employees, including meteorologist Jim Byrne, on Jan. 4. The layoffs affected all divisions of the company, including editorial, production, and business/administration. The Sun received word of the downsizing not long after it occurred from sources close to the station. However, KCOY General […]
Posted inOpinion
Are you more of a cat person or a dog person?
Teena Adams office manager “I have both. I have two cats, two dogs, and a fish. I love them all the same.” Jeanette Couture site supervisor “Cat person. I don’t like dogs. I got bit by a dog when I was 5 and almost lost my leg.” Eddie Beck student “Cat person. Cats are great.” […]
Posted inNews
Layoffs at KCOY
The Sun has received information that several employees have been laid off at local news station KCOY. According to a source close to the news affiliate, a dozen people were let go on Jan. 4, including meteorologist Jim Byrne. Parent company KION TV in Salinas has yet to make an official announcement about possible changes […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The new year yields a new venue
The new year brings many changes, looked and unlooked for. One local business, Skip Gibson’s BBQ, has moved, something owner and proprietor Skip Gibson had been planning since he opened his restaurant. He also developed plans to offer an entertainment venue for the city of Santa Maria. “We always had the vision of becoming a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
New beers’ resolutions
Around this portion of year, people waste time blowing smoke up their own butts about New Year’s resolutions they will never complete. People join a new gym they will never go to. They tell their friends they are going to work out and lose weight, but then they will spend the next 365 days sucking […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Valley speaks
Barron Smith, a noted Civil War authority, will be the speaker at “The Valley Speaks” at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. in Shepard Hall of the Public Library. Many of Santa Maria’s earliest settlers came from the war-torn states after the conflict ended. Some of the artifacts collected from the estate of various members […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Get motivated
Authors Marty J. Reep and Isaiah Whittaker II, of Lompoc, announced the release of Believe. Do. And Follow Through!, a motivational book that challenges readers to think differently and live differently. The authors say it offers unique perspectives on solid principles that can help readers get where they want to be. Reep has more than […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Experience Twelfth Night
Lompoc Civic Theatre will present Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare’s comedy of love, deceit, and frivolity, in early January. This fully staged workshop production was rehearsed in a nine-day process. The story follows Viola, a stranded young lady who’s been separated from her brother at sea and takes on the appearance of a man. As she […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The demon within
Erin Kiniry, 25, thought she’d left her battle with anorexia 10 years behind her. In fact, she and her family were content to never think about how she was only 15 and the disease had taken control over her family’s lives. Then the Orcutt resident began to hear from others who were struggling to understand […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Twisted art
There’s treasure in the hills above Orcutt, but it takes a special eye to see it—an eye like Dale June’s. He sees treasure all around him, which inspires him to create intricate, detailed works of art, and still not everyone can see what he sees without taking time to reflect. [image-2] June does a lot […]