On Dec. 14, the Santa Maria Police Department’s Traffic Bureau conducted a DUI and driver’s license saturation patrol from noon to 10 p.m. in the Santa Maria area. A total of eight motor officers and 20 police officers joined the citywide effort. The officers made 327 traffic stops and issued 172 moving violation citations, conducted […]
Santa Maria Police Department continues to crack down on DUI offenders, unlicensed drivers
Posted inNews
Wind farms, graffiti are hot topics for Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
On Dec. 16, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0, with 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray abstaining, to move the hearing for two appeals against the Lompoc Energy Project to February 2009. The project proposes building 65 turbines, each approximately 260 feet high (nearly 400 feet, counting rotors), on land five miles south […]
Posted inNews
Give the gift of preparedness with the Red Cross
This year, frazzled shoppers searching for the “perfect” gift need look no farther than their local chapter of the American Red Cross. Chapter offices in both north and south Santa Barbara County are currently selling a variety of inexpensive First Aid and Emergency Preparedness Kits and other items good to have on hand during emergency […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County continues Tea Fire relief efforts
It’s “all hands on deck” when it comes to carrying out response plans to help Santa Barbara County residents recover from the Tea Fire. Services and coordinated responses incorporate staffers from nearly every county department, including Public Works, Planning and Development, Sheriff’s, Fire, and Public Health, as well as the Office of Emergency Services and […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria is looking for locals to fill government vacancies
The city of Santa Maria is seeking representatives to serve on several key governmental boards, commissions, and committees for 2009. The deadline to submit an application to fill one of the vacancies is Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. City groups with vacancies include the All-America City Committee, the Code Compliance Board, the Community Action Commission, […]
Posted inNews
There’s a new commander on base
On Dec. 9, Vandenberg Air Force Base held a change of command ceremony: Lt. Gen. Larry James took command of the 14th Air Force and the Joint Functional Component Command for Space. James formerly held the rank of major general. James formerly served as the 5th Air Force vice commander and 13th Air Force deputy […]
Posted inNews
Vandenberg missile launch is a success
A Missile Defense Agency interceptor missile successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Dec. 5. The launch was part of an exercise and flight test involving the interception of an intercontinental ballistic missile by a ground-based interceptor missile. The interceptor missile was designed to protect the United States against a limited long-range ballistic missile […]
Posted inNews
Oil spills again at Platform A
Cleanup crews are still responding to the 1,344-gallon oil spill that hit the water on Dec. 7 at Platform A, six miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. Platform A is also the site of the infamous 1969 spill that sparked the modern anti-oil drilling movement. As of Dec. 9, nearly all recoverable oil had […]
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Sugarplum Fairy to visit local cancer patients
Christmas is coming early to cancer patients on the Central Coast. On Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo will open up its dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker to cancer patients and their families. A total of 1,200 free tickets have been distributed throughout Catholic Healthcare West’s Central Coast Centers, […]
Posted inOpinion
Thank you, Dana Adobe supporters and volunteers
I wish to thank the many Central Coast residents who, over the past 40 years, helped save the historic Dana Adobe in Nipomo. Now major restoration has started, contractors are being hired, and Aaron Regez, Dana caretaker, and volunteers have started removing old cement and bricks. We need more healthy volunteers to assist in this […]
Posted inOpinion
Good work on getting different sides
I just wanted to thank you for the way you wrote your article, “Proposition 8 is still making waves” (Nov. 27). I voted yes on Proposition 8 and so many people have accused me of hating gay people and voting to make gays second-class citizens. My vote had nothing to do with looking down on […]
Posted inOpinion
Redefining words is double-plus ungood
Regarding “Proposition 8 is still making waves” (Nov. 27), the real issue here is that words do mean things. Gay and lesbian people already have the right to get married anywhere. A gay man can marry a lesbian woman or a straight woman, and a lesbian woman can marry a gay man or a straight […]
