Former Solvang Mayor Dies at Age 81
William S. Warwick, former Solvang
mayor, died Monday, May 14 at the age of 81.
“Bill
was an active member of our Board of Directors for two years and served with
quiet strength,” said Vicki Morehouse, executive director of the Solvang
Lutheran Home. “We will miss him and keep his wife Patsy and his family
in our prayers.”
He is survived by his wife Patsy, their
three sons, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A rosary was held
for the former Mayor at 7 p.m. May 17 at the Old Mission Santa Ines. A funeral
Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. May 18, also at Old Mission Santa Ines.
Arraignment Date for Santa Ynez Man Facing Slew of Felony
Charges Rescheduled
The arraignment date for Jose Morales
Leon took place at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 18 in Department 8 of the Santa
Barbara County Courthouse.
Annual Click It or Ticket Campaigns is Underway
The Santa Barbara
County Sheriff’s Department launched its third-annual Click It or Ticket
Campaign for
“It’s important for the community because it’s
been proven the seatbelts save lives in even minor collision,” said
Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, Eric
Rainey. The 2006 Click It campaign resulted in about a one percent increase of
seatbelt wearing motorists in
“It’s a nationwide campaign,” said Goleta City
Traffic Supervisor, Sergeant Greg Nordyke.
“We try to use resources already in place like news releases, posted
signs, along with giving out citations to educate the public and enact strict
enforcement.”
The cities of
“I would say in 2005 there were approximately 500 seatbelt
citations given in the City of
Firefighters Continue
to Battle Seasonal Blazes
Forest Services is still investigating
the cause of the fire that occurred between Spanish Ranch and Rock Front Ranch
off Highway 166 in Cuyama,
May 14.
According to the
“It was contained
because of a quick attack by helicopter and fire crews,” said Public
Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Eli Iskow. “It could have
gotten very large if resources were not available as quickly as they were,
because the land leads into the foothills of the
“Ten years ago, we had
the
This was the first fire of
the year for the area. Iskow
advises homeowners and residents to visit www.sbcfire.com
to help get resources and information on how to build correct defensible space
around their homes, a law that is mandated by the state.
Registered Sex Offender
Tries to Gain Entrance to
43-Year-old registered sex offender
Jonathon Rodriguez of Oceano
was arrested Friday May 10, 2007 after he allegedly tried opening locked doors
at the
School officials notified
police that a shirtless man was wondering the school grounds trying various
door handles.
Sergeant Erik Raney of the
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s department said that when the suspect was approached
by school officials, he claimed to be searching for his child. When staff members pointed him toward
the main office explaining that he needed to sign in, in order to be on the
property, he ran in the opposite direction and jumped over bushes.
Officers later found
Rodriguez near the 100th block of
According to Raney, officers
on the scene said the suspect appeared to be intoxicated. When asked where he had been, he told
officers he had come from the Chumash Casino and was now on his way home.
Police ran a check on the
individual which revealed a “290” meaning that he is a registered
sex offender.
Officers then placed
Rodriquez under arrest for violating the Sexual Registrant Law which bars him
from entering school grounds, parks, or property that children
attend.
Although Rodriquez appeared
to be intoxicated he had not been measured for alcohol content or illegal
substances. Sergeant Raney also noted that the individual had been kicked out
of the Chumash Casino over past incidences but could not confirm if he had been
expelled on the day that he had attempted entry to the elementary school.
Governor Proposes
Eliminating Funds for Agricultural Lands
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has
proposed the elimination of the $39.1 million paid to cities and counties under
the Williamson Act, according to a letter released by his office May 14.
The Williamson Act,
which was passed in 1965, makes
Land owners sign a
10-year contract with the county the land is in and the county then receives
funding from the state to help offset some of losses it incurs from the
discount.
“The Williamson
Act is beneficial to the land owners, the county and the public at
large,” said Executive Vice-President of the California Cattlemen’s
Association, Matt Byrne. “It protects open space and allows the county to
recoup funds from the state.
“[If funding is
cut] there will be a deficit in the various counties,” Byrne said.
“If that funding is not restored, the counties will experience an
immediate reduction in their revenues.
“Were working
with the Governor’s office and those in the Assembly and Senate to
restore the funding,” he added. “We are also encouraging members to
contact their legislators to let them know that this is of importance to them
as well.” The proposal is part of the governor’s revised 2007-2008
fiscal year budget. The act covers nearly 16 million acres of privately owned
land in
Old Santa Ynez Day is Heading
Our Way
The 43rd annual Old Santa
Ynez Day will be held on June 9. Food,
arts and crafts and game booths will be available for visitors. Booths will
open at 9 a.m. and the Old Santa Ynez Day Parade begins at noon. “Our
Grand Marshall this year is Steve Siegel, owner of Siegel California
Leather,” said Bosco Carricaburu, of the Santa Ynez
Valley Elks Lodge. “Thank you to this year’s sponsors, the Santa
Ynez Elks Lodge, Rio Vista Chevrolet, Castle Contracting, KRAZy Country 105.9, United General Title, Siegel of
California and Valley Oaks Printing.” For more information, call
805.688.3023