Animal Services Community Outreach Coordinator Stacy Silva said the center’s staff discovered open, empty cages in the rabbit resort Saturday morning, and they ruled out an escape or animal attack. “If an animal were to attack, they wouldn’t have opened the cages,” Silva said. “A lot of the cages were up high, and rabbits can’t […]
Thief steals rabbits, rooster from Santa Maria Animal Center
Posted inNews
Trial date set for suspects charged in Lompoc stabbing
A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge set a May 24 trial start date for the three Lompoc men charged with murder with a gang enhancement in connection with a stabbing last June. Jesse Lara, 29, was stabbed to death on June 6, 2015, according to police. Damien Simpson, Dequan Matthews, and Edward Carter Jr. […]
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Santa Barbara County Animal Services considering recommendation to restructure management
In the meeting, county public health department Director Takashi Wada and Deputy Director Susan Klein-Rothschild met with the board to discuss last year’s set of 464 recommendations by the American Humane Association for the county’s Animal Services. Recommendations included a new, more financially efficient form of management. “That was the first recommendation in their summary,” […]
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Santa Maria Police Department holds community vigil for Oscar Joaquin
Friends and family of 17-year-old Oscar Daniel Joaquin gathered with members of the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) and the community in Santa Maria’s Russell Park on the evening of Feb. 22 to search for answers. The gathering was arranged by the SMPD and attracted nearly 100 people to the scene where Joaquin’s body was […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Diego Villagran
Santa Maria High School sophomore Diego Villagran has been handed a lot of responsibility by his soccer coach, Lala Cuna, this season. Villagran is a captain on the varsity team—a rare designation for a sophomore—and serves as the defensive anchor at center fullback for the 20-4-1 Saints. In its last six games, Santa Maria has […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Warrior redemption: Righetti girls’ basketball reverses misfortunes of the past with ‘dream’ season
Righetti High School senior Courtney Barba sees and feels the difference. When comparing this year’s Righetti basketball team to the previous three she played on—well, there’s no comparison. Over three seasons between 2012 and 2015, the Warriors posted a 25-49 record and were led by a new coach each season. Oftentimes, controversy, in one form […]
Posted inOpinion
Protect the seeds
Do you know what the problem with blue jays is? They have no respect for a gal’s seeds. I’m talking about the plump, tasty seeds that burst from the giant sunflowers I grow in my garden. I do all the work and those aggressive, mean thieves muscle their way into my yard and steal them, […]
Posted inOpinion
Orcutt should explore incorporation
The article in the Sun, titled “Orcutt has eyes,” (Feb. 11) points at some growing pains for this community of 40,000 people. Crime is growing as the town grows but police protection is not. What to do? The article discusses a long-standing issue of Orcutt’s relation to the city of Santa Maria and the county. […]
Posted inOpinion
Hidden film set is a piece of Americana
By now, many locals have heard the legend of the larger-than-life movie set that Cecil B. DeMille built (and subsequently abandoned) in 1923 to film one of the first epic films ever created. There are many fascinating aspects of the DeMille movie set story, including what occurred during the post-filming years and how it brings […]
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Neonics, ag’s fallen hero: Neonicotinoid insecticides once saved the day, but now they’re under fire for potential adverse effects
Neonicotinoids have two stories to tell. In the first, they’re the good guys. While acres of citrus trees across the nation are withering and dying from an incurable insect-carried disease, neonic insecticides are growers’ best shot at containing the damage. In the second story, they’re villains. U.S. honeybees have exhibited declining health in recent years, […]
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Jimenez Elementary language program going strong
Miles Restrepo was intensely focused on coloring a picture, so when I interrupted him with a question about how he likes his kindergarten class, he wasn’t exactly thrilled. “I love it so much,” he said. “The end.” He returned to his coloring for a moment until I tacked on another question: Why does he love […]
Posted inOpinion
What’s your dream wedding location?
Consuelo Leon mom “Somewhere foreign. Not here. Where the water is clear, with some kind of cliff.” Stephanie Leon mom “The Grand Canyon.” Loan Bayer physical therapist “I like weddings at churches, with all your family and friends there.” Dean Bayer retired farmer-rancher “On a beach down in Mexico.”