Obesity prevention forum to come to Santa Maria

CenCal Health, formally the Santa Barbara Regional Health Authority, will be hosting a Childhood Obesity Summit on Jan. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria, 3455 Skyway Drive.

The summit will target health professionals and community advocates. Ann Yelmokas McDermott, director of Cal Poly’s Center for Obesity Prevention and Education, will be the keynote speaker. The Partners for Fit Youth has teamed up with CenCal Health for the event. Tickets are $28 and include the program fee, materials and dinner. For more information contact Paula at (805) 562-1020.

 

Woman accused of embezzling over half-a-million dollars arrested

After a lengthy investigation, Sheriff’s detectives arrested 44-year-old Charlene Cortez Avila, a former employee of Card Payment Solutions of Santa Barbara, for embezzlement after she turned herself in Jan. 17. The investigation was initiated after the employer discovered a $440,000 discrepancy in merchant losses. Avila is accused of stealing $559,000 from the company between October 2004 and June 2007. According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, Avila diverted into her personal accounts funds that were intended to be deposited into the company’s bank account. The Sheriff’s department said that she embezzled as much as $52,000 a month into her accounts. She was taken to the Santa Barbara County Jail and held in lieu of bail equal to the total amount of money she is accused of embezzling.

 

Police arrest auto burglar accused of plaguing Goleta

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a woman in connection with a rash of recent car burglaries in Goleta. According to the Sheriff’s department, Jennifer Coltrin was arrested at a mobile home in the 4100 block of State Street in Santa Barbara for having outstanding warrants for her arrest. At the time of the arrest, deputies found stolen checks, wallets, purses and identification cards that are thought to belong to more than 12 victims of car burglaries in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Coltrin was taken to the Santa Barbara County Jail and is being charged with being in possession of stolen property.

 

Teen stabbed in gang-related incident

The Santa Barbara Police Department is still investigating the Jan. 17 stabbing of a 17-year-old victim that occurred on the 1200 block of San Pascual in Santa Barbara. According to the police department, officers were informed of the stabbing by a staff member of the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, who told police that the victim was being treated for multiple stab wounds. According to a witness, several Hispanic males got out of a vehicle and assaulted the victim. Police believe that the incident was gang related.

 

Caltrans closes off-ramp at Avila Beach Road  

Caltrans announced its closure of the southbound off-ramp of Highway 101 at Avila Beach Road. It will be closed Monday through Friday through February. The Highway 101 off-ramp at San Luis Bay Drive and Shell Beach Road may be used as alternate routes. For traffic updates and state highway conditions, visit www.caltrans.org.

 

County hires Daniel Wallace as interim county counsel

The Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors hired Daniel J. Wallace as an interim county counsel at its Jan. 15 board meeting. Wallace replaced Shane Stark, who retired on Jan. 25, after working more than 20 years for the county.

Wallace will officially begin working Jan. 28. “Mr. Wallace also brings a wealth of public sector law experience to Santa Barbara County and, having already practiced law here for many years, he is very familiar with the local issues,” said 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray. “He was a logical choice to ensure a smooth transition in the County Counsel’s Office.” Wallace was hired and contracted at an annual salary of $192,000.

 

Board postpones Santa Ynez Community Plan hearing

The county board of supervisors continued an agenda item that called for the board to consider and adopt recommendations concerning amendments to and rezones under the Santa Ynez Draft Community Plan. The item was continued because 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone was not present at the meeting. It will be brought back before the board on Feb. 19. If passed, the item would allow projects that require rezones to partly complete the application process before the draft Santa Ynez plan is complete. For more information, visit www.countyofsb.com.

 

 

SB Blues Society to hold event

The Santa Barbara Blues Society will hold its Appreciation Show and Auction Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. in Warren Hall at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real. The show will feature an acoustic duo with Nathan James and Ben Hernandez. The duo won the 2007 International Blues Challenge, in which more than 150 national and international musicians competed. The show also will include a silent auction. Auction items will include a custom signature edition guitar by Martin. All proceeds will support the society’s Blues for Youth program. For more information, visit www.sbblues.org.

 

Dog dies in vehicle fire

Police are still investigating a fire that resulted in the death of a dog on Jan. 21. According to the Santa Barbara Police Department, the fire took place in the 2600 block of Murrell Road. Police received reports of an explosion heard in the area. When authorities arrived, officers found two vehicles engulfed in flames. The owner of one of the vehicles, who was found walking outside his vehicle, had suffered significant burn injuries.

 

Sheriff’s department cites more people for selling alcohol to minors

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department cited two more establishments for selling alcohol to minors Jan. 12. The citations were the result the Sheriff’s Department’s latest ABC Decoy Operation. Los Alamos Market and the 76 Station Circle K in Buellton were cited for selling alcohol to minors. The clerks who were cited could face a minimum fine of $250 or 24-32 hours of community service. The business could face an additional fine and penalties from the ABC.