Authorities find body of missing swimmer

The body of Edwin Platt, 50, was found on a beach near Loon Point near Summerland and Carpinteria March 24.

Platt had been missing since March 13 after he reportedly received a phone call informing him that his boat slipped its anchor at a dock near East Beach. When Platt finally located his boat, it had drifted off the coast of Summerland between Finney Beach and Loon Point. To prevent the boat from beaching, Platt jumped into the water and attempted to swim toward his boat. Platt disappeared in the water, and the Sheriff’s department’s dive team and Search and Rescue Team attempted to locate Platt but was unsuccessful, despite several days of searching.

The Santa Barbara Coroners Bureau identified the body after two women reported it to authorities.

 

Ag structure burns down

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Santa Maria City Fire Department responded to a fire at 720 Rosemary Road, just west of Santa Maria, on March 24. The fire destroyed an unused 100-foot by 30-foot agriculture building. The fire was reported at 5:30 p.m. Firefighters were able to knock the fire down in 15 minutes after they arrived, and declared the fire completely contained by 6 p.m. No other structures were reported damaged and no people or animals were injured.

 

Sheriff’s deputies graduate

Sheriff Bill Brown graduated the second class of Custody Deputies for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department on March 20. The ceremony was held at the Goleta Valley Church, 595 North Fairview Ave. Twelve deputies graduated. All had to complete 240 hours of Academy Training, which included written tests and physical agility examinations.

 

Closure of two Pechanga casino nightclubs blamed on alcohol

Temecula (AP) — The popular Eagle’s Nest and Silk nightclubs in the Pechanga Resort & Casino have been shut down by the tribe because of alcohol-related problems.

Pechanga spokeswoman Amy Minniear says “tribal leaders have determined that an unacceptable number of incidents involving alcohol consumption” have occurred at the Temecula complex.

Details about the offensive incidents haven’t been disclosed.

The tribe also hasn’t said what will be done with those nightclubs, saying only on its Web site that, “We are working on improving the overall Pechanga experience.”