Few, if any, people left the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors June budget hearings with smiles on their faces. While the supervisors did scrape together about $5 million to pad the county’s strategic reserve, they still had to make more than $15 million in cuts to balance the 2010-11 budget. Since then, confusion over […]
Agribusiness as usual?
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Let the campaigning begin
Ever thought of becoming a public servant? The Santa Maria City Clerk’s office is busy preparing for the Nov. 2 general election, through which voters will elect two members of the City Council. People interested in running for office must be at least 18 years old and a registered voter in the city of Santa […]
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Multi-agency drug ring investigation ends with arrests
After four months of stake outs and information gathering, a team of local and federal law enforcement officials broke up what it calls a “sophisticated drug trafficking ring” that spanned three counties. On July 2, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit—with help from the Santa Maria Police Department, San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department, and […]
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Methyl iodide generates buzz at the state level
California officials have received a record number of public comments regarding the use of methyl iodide, a controversial pesticide that could be used by the state’s strawberry and flower growers. In a recent interview with the Sun, Department of Pesticide Regulation spokesperson Lea Brooks said her office is in the midst of reviewing more than […]
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Close call
On July 11, while driving to back up another officer chasing a burglary suspect, a Santa Maria Police Department officer crashed his cruiser into a tree in a center median near the 100 Block of North Broadway. The officer was transported via ambulance to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara with serious injuries. As of press […]
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Local school district mourns one leader, searches for another
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District is now accepting applications from the public to fill the Board of Education seat formerly held by Ken Milo, a longtime district advocate who died in June. Milo had two years left of his four-year board term when he passed away. Applications for the position must be submitted to the […]
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Foodbank tour featured at meeting
The Santa Maria Manufacturers Association, a group promoting local industry and economic development, will hold its next monthly meeting at the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County on July 27. Foodbank Executive Director Erik Talkin and Director of Operations Kathy Hayes will be the featured speakers at the event, which includes a factory tour. The meeting […]
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Can you hear me now?
Santa Maria-area Verizon Wireless customers may be noticing an improvement in service thanks to a new cell site the company recently activated near Pioneer Valley High School and Marian Medical Center. According to Verizon, the added capacity means the network can carry more calls, e-mails, and text and picture messages, and offer its customers more […]
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Nominate an Impact player
From now until July 30, the Central Coast Community Impact Awards Selection Committee will be taking nominations for its third annual awards competition. Nonprofit radio stations K-LIFE 89.3 FM and 890 AM established the awards to honor individuals and organizations who advance the quality of life on the Central Coast. Awards will be handed out […]
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Santa Maria storage complex sells
Barker Pacific Group, a Los Angeles-based real estate developer, recently announced the acquisition of A-American Self Storage in Santa Maria for $4.5 million. The developer bought the property from A-American/Santa Maria Storage Partners through its affiliate Union Development Company. The site, located at 401 Farnel Road, boasts 849 storage units and 99 RV-parking spaces on […]
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Hancock gets thumbs up from an accreditation team
Allan Hancock College officials received word from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges earlier this month: Reaffirmation of the school’s accreditation was approved. Every six years, California community colleges undergo a self-study and accreditation reaffirmation process that includes a visit from a team of peer evaluators on behalf of the association’s Accrediting Commission for […]
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Kids discover the importance of safety
Beginning Aug. 2, the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum will be host to a weeklong program called Safety Town, aiming to teach children ages 4 to 6 commonsense safety tips, ranging from learning not to touch the stove to how to recognize a police officer. Members of the police and fire departments, as well as […]