PUBLIC NOTICE

 

Hearing Scheduled for Santa Ynez Valley Environmental Impact Report   

 

The County of Santa Barbara has issued a public announcement notifying the Santa Ynez Valley community of an upcoming Public Scoping Meeting about the future preparation for the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The purpose of the notice was to inform interested parties that the county’s Planning and Development Office of Long Range Planning will be leading the preparation of the EIR. The community is encouraged to participate by attending the Public Scoping Meeting at 6 p.m. August 8 at the Solvang Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang. For more information visit www.countyofsb.org/plandev/comp/planareas/santaynez/default.asp

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Auto Thief Nabbed After Man Leaves Range Rover Unattended;

 

A Santa Barbara Man learns a tough lesson after briefly leaving his brand new Range Rover running unattended on July 20. Apparently, the unnamed 28-year-old owner of the $100,000 vehicle was dropping off laundry at Ablitt’s Dry Cleaners at 14 west Gutierrez St. in Santa Barbara when a man took off with the car. The owner called authorities and police issued a “Be on The Lookout” alert.

Within 15 minutes of the report, the Range Rover was spotted at the Chevron Gas Station on Castillo and Montecito Street.

According to a statement released by the Santa Barbara Police Department, the suspect had left the vehicle unattended and entered the gas station convenient store, but when police arrived he was exciting the store and threw the car keys under the Range Rover. The car’s registration was found in the suspect’s rear pocket.   

The suspect was identified as 42-year-old Casey Lee Wadsworth, who was residing at the Salvation Army Shelter on 423 Chapala Street. Wadsworth was on probation for stealing another vehicle prior to this incident. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.

“The Santa Barbara Police Department cautions people to not leave their car unattended while the engine is running,” said Public Information Officer Paul McCaffrey. “There are suspects who are looking for opportunities to separate you from you possessions.”

 

Santa Barbara County Metropolitan Transit District to Add Board Members

 

The Santa Barbara County Metropolitan Transit District, better known as MTD will be required to increase its Board of Director’s membership from five to seven members after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s July 20 approval of Assembly Bill 61.

“I am very pleased the Governor signed my legislation,” said Assemblymember Pedro Nava, who authored the bill, in a statement released to the public. “It will make the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Board a more representative body for our area and make it more responsive to the transportation needs of Santa Barbara County.”

The two additional board members will come from the cities of Goleta and Carpentaria. Though both have been incorporated, they will be chosen by the local City Council in those areas. The bill, which passed in the Senate July 9, received almost anonymous approval. The bill is also intended to allow Goleta and Carpinteria representation on the district board.

MTD works to enhance public transit services along Santa Barbara's south coast from Goleta to Carpinteria. For more information about A.B. 61 visit www.legislation.ca.gov or for information on MTD’s current Board of Directors or services provided please visit http://www.sbmtd.gov/MTD%20Board.htm.

 

Solvang Police Search for Bathroom Peeping Tom

 

A 41-year-old female from Hemmingway Court, Calif. reported that an unknown suspect with wooly hair wearing a dark brown t-shirt with writing on the back, blue jeans and white sneakers was peeping over a stall in a women’s public bathroom located at 1645 Mission Dr. in Solvang.

According to the police report, the suspect reportedly hid inside a bathroom stall, climbed on top of the toilette seat and looked over the divider at the victim in the adjoining stall. The victim’s spouse had witnessed the male suspect exiting the women’s bathroom and crossing the street toward Copenhagen Liquor to enter a white Chevrolet 1500 short-bed truck. The suspect is described as being in his early 20’s, 5-feet 9-inches tall, 145-155 pounds with brown wooly short hair and brown eyes. A “Be-On-The-Lookout” broadcast was issued with the suspect’s description. Police were advised that the Pismo Police Department had a similar incident recently occur at a public bathroom. 

 

Earl Warren Show Grounds to Host Horse and Rodeo Show

 

Tickets are now on sale for the 83^rd Santa Barbara Fiesta Rodeo Professional Bull Riders Challenger Tour being held at 7:30 p.m. August 2 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds Arena.

The August 2 event will kick off the four day event that will include a Fiesta Stock Horse Show, Rodeo and kids sheep mutton-busting. More than 30 riders will compete to see who can ride a bull for the longest period of time. The winner will receive $30,000.

“The bull riders come from all over,” said Jim Youngson, chair for the Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show and Rodeo. “We have guys come as far away as South America and many of them come from places from across the United States.”

Some of the riders scheduled include Travis Briscoe, who earned more than $200,000 during his first two years of riding, Greg Potter, the 2003 NFR World Champion and Luke Snyder, 2001 Rookie of the Year. The riders will attempt to ride the nation’s nastiest bulls.  

“The exciting event to kick off the four day event is the Professional Bull Riders Challenger Tour,” Youngson said. “It’s like having some of the top NASCAR drivers or golfers in your town and they’re going to go out and ride these enormous [Bronco] bulls.”

“I’m excited about this because it’s carrying on a decade’s-long tradition for the Santa Barbara area, and I think that’s important for all of us to appreciate the heritage of where we live,” Youngson said.

Tickets range from $30-$80 and are available through Ticketmaster, 805-583-8700 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. They can also be purchased at Jedlicka’s Saddlery Stores in Santa Barbara and Los Olivos. For more information about the event visit www.sbfiestarodeo.com.

 

 

Port Hueneme Man Arrested for Alleged Drug Dealing

 

After a month long investigation, Santa Barbara Narcotics Detectives arrested a man suspected of dealing Cocaine near well known business establishments in Carpinteria on July 24.

According to a statement issued by the Sheriff’s Department, patrons of the Palms Bar and Restaurant and Moondoggies in Carpinteria complained that 37-year-old Noe Renteria was openly dealing narcotics in the establishments. After obtaining a warrant to search Renteria, detectives contacted him at the Palms and found $500 in cash and nearly an ounce of Cocaine individually packaged for sale.

 “I’m sure it’s a good thing he’s off the streets,” said Co-Owner and Manager of the Palms. “I have kids and we don’t need [drug dealers] out there and that’s for sure.”

Though a search of Renteria’s residence was conducted, it did not yield any additional evidence. The suspect was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on transportation and possession of narcotics for sale.